Yesterday in Calgary, Lauren Coughlin took the lead in the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament after the first round. She played a great round, making four birdies in six holes and finishing with a score of 4-under-par 68 at Earl Grey Golf Club. This put her one shot ahead of Jennifer Kupcho, Ariya Jutanugarn from Thailand, and Australians Hannah Green and Minjee Lee. Following closely behind are Alison Lee, Gigi Stoll, Lydia Ko from New Zealand, and South Koreans Haeran Ryu, Jenny Shin, and Hye-Jin Choi, all tied for sixth place with a score of 70.
This is a significant achievement for Coughlin, who, at 31 years old, had never finished in the top five in an LPGA Tour event before this year. She had a strong showing at two major events, tying for third at the Chevron Championship in April and placing fourth at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month. Coughlin attributed her recent success to hitting the ball well and enjoying herself on the course, which has helped her maintain a positive attitude and focus on her game.
During the first round, Coughlin started on the back nine and made nine consecutive pars before making birdies on holes 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9, with a bogey on the sixth hole. Despite the windy conditions, she remained patient and focused, leading to a successful round. Other players like Green, Minjee Lee, and Kupcho also had strong rounds with four birdies each.
Jutanugarn, the 2016 tournament winner in Calgary, had a mixed round with consecutive birdies on holes 14, 15, and 16, followed by bogeys on 17 and 18. She noted the challenges of the course but approached the round without expectations, which helped her play better and adapt to the difficult conditions.
Defending champion Megan Khang, who won the event last year in Vancouver, is currently tied for 62nd place after shooting a 74 in the first round. As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on Coughlin as she looks to maintain her lead and secure a victory in the CPKC Women’s Open. With strong competition from players like Kupcho, Jutanugarn, and the Australian duo of Green and Lee, the upcoming rounds promise to be exciting and full of top-tier golf action.