Rio Takeda and Eri Okayama Lead Women’s Open After a Standout Day
At Royal Porthcawl, Wales, Rio Takeda and Eri Okayama share the lead at the Women’s Open after a first round full of emotions. Takeda, with a notable performance, managed to recover from a double bogey on the ninth hole, thanks to four birdies in the last seven holes, to finish with a score of 67, five under par. The day was marked by the dominance of the Japanese players, with three of them occupying the top positions. Miyu Yamashita placed third with 68 strokes. The consistency of the wind prevented lower scores, although half of the participants managed to stay at par or improve their performance. Okayama, a player on the Japan LPGA, also had an outstanding performance, including a birdie on the 17th hole. The event featured the participation of Lottie Woad, who had a mixed day. Woad, who recently won the Women’s Scottish Open in her professional debut, managed to stay in the competition with a birdie on the 18th hole, finishing with a par of 72. Nelly Korda, who holds the first place in the ranking, had a start with a bogey, but recovered with three birdies, finishing with 70 strokes. Korda commented on the importance of luck and the ability to overcome wrong decisions. Mao Saigo and Chisato Iwai, winners of important tournaments, were placed in the group of 69 strokes. Mimi Rhodes, an English player, also stood out on the day.Rhodes, who grew up playing near the Bristol Channel, felt comfortable on the field despite the wind.“I had a good amount of birdies, just a few poor bogeys on the front nine that definitely could have been avoided. It’s good to finish at par and birdie the last. It’s one of those rounds that definitely could have gotten away. I’m happy with how I held on and managed a decent round.”
Lottie Woad
