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World number 10 Hull, runner-up last year and
chasing her first major, mixed one bogey with six birdies in
windy conditions for a five-under-par 67 that left her one shot
clear of world number one Nelly Korda and China's Yin Ruoning.
American Lilia Vu, who began her title defence with a huge putt
for birdie from the edge of the green at the first hole, was
among six players a further shot adrift after opening with a 69
on a day in which only nine players managed to break 70.
Hull, who went out in the afternoon wave alongside Korda and Vu,
had her only blemish at the par-three eighth hole where she made
bogey but responded immediately with her second birdie of the
day to reach the turn at one under.
From there, Hull stormed home with four birdies over a flawless
back nine that left her alone atop the leaderboard.
"Before my round I was in there watching it on the TV and when I
saw the scores I thought, 'How is she (Yin) four-under par?'
That was an unbelievable score," Hull said.
"I'd take that now because it was gusting a lot on the range. I
said to my coach, '(It) feels like they could call it at any
minute because I don't know how the balls are staying on the
greens'.
"To go out there, shoot five-under, play pretty solid, it was a
lot of fun."
Korda and Yin both birdied the final two holes to grab a share
of second place.
Olympic champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand, seeking a third major,
was in a share of 12th place after opening the year's final
blue-riband event with a 71 that left her in a six-way share of
12th place.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Additional reporting by
Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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