With the morning wave finishing up their rounds, the scores are low at the JM Eagle LA Championship held at El Caballero Golf Club.
Ashleigh Buhai holds the lead after firing a -9 63 on Thursday. She made nine birdies without any holes over par and hit 17 greens with only 26 putts.
Madelene Sagström, coming off a win at the T-Mobile Match Play, continued her momentum in the opening round, shooting a -7 65. The scorecard was clean for Sagström who had no bogeys, five birdies and a hole-in-one on the final shot of the day. She hit only seven fairways but converted well on her approaches, totaling 15 greens in regulation.
Playing alongside Sagström was world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who is in a large group tied for sixth at -5. Korda hit every green on the day but still had 32 putts, resulting in a busy scorecard for the 15-time LPGA winner. She had eight birdies and three bogeys for the day.
Also in contention are Sei Young Kim, Lauren Coughlin and Akie Iwai, who are each tied for third at -7.
TV coverage of the opening round begins on Golf Channel at 6:00 Eastern time.
