Ko cards a solid 72

Lydia Ko, an Olympic silver and bronze medallist, shot an even par 72 today to be tied for 13th in a field of 60 after the first round.

Ko, 27, made a bad start when she opened her round with a bogey, but she picked up two birdies in the outward nine. Coming home, a birdie was negated by a bogey, but a double bogey on the 15th, when her second shot landed in the water, damaged her round. Ko fought back with a birdie on 18 to keep herself in the hunt.

Ko felt she played solid golf. “I had the one hiccup, but the course is difficult and can get away on you if you aren’t careful. I stayed patient and finished with a birdie to cap off the round, so I was happy.”

The runaway leader after the first round was French favourite Celine Boutier, who shot a seven under par 65. Boutier was in the group ahead of Ko and drew huge crowds.

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