Alex recorded six birdies and one bogey while
dealing with fast greens at Ottawa Golf Club.
"They were rolling unbelievably well, really quick," Alex said.
"The nice thing is they're still a bit soft, so the shots are
holding into the greens. So, it kind of makes for a good combo.
You can hit shots in there pretty tight and then you have a
really nice pace to hold them."
Alex used an effective putting game as she seeks her fifth
top-10 of the season and took the lead while coping with the
windy conditions.
"I putted unbelievably well today," Alex said. "I rolled it so
good. So, I hope I can just carry that into the next couple of
days and just tidy up the ball-striking a little bit."
The 27-year-old produced a mostly flawless round after taking
two weeks off. She matched her lowest round of this year and
also tied for third-lowest round of her career.
It also is the first time in her career that Alex leads after an
opening round.
South Korea's Chun In-gee and England's Holly Clyburn share
second place at four-under.
Chun turned in the only bogey-free round while Clyburn finished
strong after a slow start with an eagle on her last hole at the
476-yard, par-five ninth hole.
"I've just been waiting for something to drop like that all day,
actually," said Clyburn, who is in her second year on the LPGA
Tour and looking for her first career victory.
"I played solid all day, and that was just a nice present on the
last."
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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