Madelene Sagstrom had a strong day on the course Thursday, shooting 9-under 63 in the first round of the LPGA Founders Cup.
The runner-up in last year’s Women’s British Open shot a bogey-free round while also throwing out nine birdies – including four in a row to begin her day. At hole Nos. 12, 13 and 14, she rattled off three straight once again to extend her lead.
“It was one of those days,” said Sagstrom, a two-time European Solheim Cupper. “Like everything was easy. It’s like I was hitting the fairways, hitting the greens, and I was making all the putts. The hole just kept growing.”
She says at one point she turned to her caddie, Sean Codd, and told him that everything felt like a tap-in.
“It’s one of those days,” she said. “You just trying to hold on to momentum and just keep it going.”
The Swedish golfer is looking for her first win since the 2020 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. It was at that tournament that she shot a career-best 62. Yuka Saso currently owns this season’s lowest round on tour, shooting a 62 at the LPGA Hondo in Thailand in March.
Megan Khang was also bogey free on Thursday, finishing 8 under par.
“Definitely stroking it really well, reading the greens well,” said Khang.
World No. 1 Jin Young Ko is tied for 22nd after shooting 3-under 69. She had six birdies and three bogeys, failing to hit the fairway in those three holes.
“I want to play a bogey-free round next three days,” she added. “This course is really tough, so hit the fairway and hit the greens, make a par. Birdie or par.”
Anna Davis, who recently won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at 16 years old and received a sponsor’s exemption for the tournament, shot a 70.
Early into the second round Friday, Sagstrom sat one-back of the lead, having made two bogeys. Sanna Nuutinen, meanwhile, had fought her way to the top of the leaderboard at eight under with four birdies and one bogey so far Friday.