Japan’s Aki Iwai fired a bogey-free opening round of 63 (-8) to hold a two-stroke lead at the end of the first day of action at the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship.
The 24-year-old teed off in the morning at Evian Golf Resort making her first birdie of the day on the fifth hole followed by birdies on seven and nine.
Iwai, who has one LPGA Tour title to her name, made back to-back birdies on 11 and 12 before another pair on 15 and 16, and she finished with a birdie at the last to sit atop the leaderboard on eight-under-par.
“I was able to have a good focus on my golf and stay committed. I prepared a lot around the green with chipping and putting. I was driving well, but honestly everything was good,” said Iwai. “I like driver, so if I’m good and consistent with my driver. I made the good score. I like this course, it’s similar to a course in Japan.”
France’s Perrine Delacour sits in solo second place on six-under-par after an opening round of 65 – her lowest in a Major championship.
The two-time LET winner began the day with a birdie at 10 before making an eagle on 15 and back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to make the turn in four-under in her homeland.
She dropped her first shot of the day on the fifth before two more birdies on six and seven, another dropped shot on eight didn’t put her off as she rolled in a birdie at the last to move into second place.
“It was definitely a lot of fun. My caddie helped me to stay patient and enjoy the round of golf. I got a good start on 10 with a birdie. Awesome 3-wood on 15 with a great eagle,” said Delacour.
“I almost had a hole-in-one on 16, which I’m kind of disappointed with because if I made a hole-in-one this week during tournament week I cut the hair of my caddie, so that’s a good challenge to have. I stayed patient all day long beside the heat. It was pretty hot out there, but I still stayed patient. Of course you’re going to make mistakes, but I bounced back really well, which I’m super proud of myself.
“It’s for sure a lot of fun playing in France, but playing great in France is even better. You have the positivity of the people and it’s great. I have my parents here with me. It’s the first tournament they watched me play in this year, so it’s always fun to have the support from the family which is a big part of my journey into golf.”
Five players are in a share of third place at the 18-hole mark with England’s Charley Hull, Sweden’s Maja Stark, Korean pair Haeran Ryu and Jin Hee Im alongside Mao Saigo on five-under.
World number five Hull got off to a rocky start with bogeys on the first and sixth holes but soon found momentum with back-to-back birdies on seven and eight.
The five-time LET winner went on a charge in her closing holes with birdies on 13, 15 and 16 before finishing in style sinking her eagle putt on the last for her round of 66.
“I didn’t start too great, but I fought back and I felt pretty good. I think it was the ice cream that my caddie had on the 15th hole. It’s not shy kids don’t get sweets, it’s shy caddies don’t get ice cream,” said Hull.
“You have to be able to hit and create shots on slopes where you could have 127 yards and on a normal golf course, it would be an easy shot, but there the lie is crazy below your feet. You just have to understand the slopes. My home golf course I grew up on – Kettering – that was always very hilly and there was never a flat shot on the golf course.”
Six-time LET winner and Major champion Stark went bogey-free on the opening day of action in France rolling in a trio of birdies on 14, 15 and 16 before further birdies on five and nine to be in a share of fifth place.
“I felt very steady the whole round, I hit some good irons, better irons than usual and every tee shot here freaks me out. I just thought we have to go for it, so it was pretty stress-free,” said Stark.
“I had good game in me, so I knew I was going to get more chances and some of putts felt like a couple of bonuses. Everyone has such different opinions about this place, but I love it because it really challenges me in things I need to be challenged in.
“I love coming here and I love competing at this course and just hanging out in the town, it’s so nice. I’m very happy they’re making it harder and firmer.”
Seven players are one shot further back in a tie for fourth place including English duo Cara Gainer and Lottie Woad.
LET winner Gainer produced a bogey-free round of 67 (-4) to be in the top 10 after the first day of action.
“Obviously, I really enjoy coming back here. It’s such a great atmosphere and so great to see so many people out this morning and this afternoon. I played well, nothing crazy,” said Gainer.
“I just played very solid, kept it in play which is the most important thing on this golf course. I got up-and-down when I needed to and holed a couple of birdies putts when I needed.
“I was pretty nervous teeing it up today, probably the most nervous I’ve been since teeing it up here last year [in the final round]. It was a tricky final round, and I wanted to start positively here and hit some quality shots.”
Two-time LET winner Woad also produced a round of 67 (-4) on day one to be in T8 place in France.
“I played pretty solid,” Woad said. “I was in the fairway a lot and hit a lot of greens and was five-under early on and then there are a few tricky holes on the front nine that I played, so I dropped a few there, but it was a nice finish with the eagle to get it back to four-under.
“I had a nice shot into two to about six feet. It was tracking for a little bit, so it was a nice shot there. On that front nine I think I played really solid tee to green. I didn’t make as many putts as I would like to on the front nine, but I think I made a good birdie on 18. I got up-and-down out of that bunker, and just to wrap up that back nine with three-under which was nice.”
Round two will begin at 7 am (local time) and there will be a cut to the top 65 players and ties at the end of the day.
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