U.S. Ladies’s Open: Rose Zhang, Lexi Thompson wrestle, be a part of Nelly Korda

Lancaster Nation Membership challenged the complete U.S. Ladies’s Open discipline on Thursday, producing a scoring common of 75.21, greater than 5 photographs over par.

Because of this, solely 4 gamers carded under-par rounds on day one, led by Yuka Saso, who shot a 2-under 68.

However among the most notable LPGA gamers struggled and carded eye-popping scores.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot a 10-over 80. She recorded a surprising 10 on the twelfth, essentially the most difficult gap throughout the first spherical. Gamers averaged 3.8 strokes on this 161-yard par-3, which yielded solely 10 birdies. In the meantime, the twelfth produced 45 double bogeys or worse, which included Korda.

The twelfth clearly rattled the top-ranked participant, however she managed to make three birdies and three bogeys on her again 9. But, she nonetheless by no means fairly bought it collectively.

She was not the one celebrity to endure from the carnage, nonetheless.

Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang additionally struggled. Zhang carded a 9-over 79, whereas Thompson signed for an 8-over 78.

Thompson hit simply 7-of-14 fairways and 10-of-18 greens. She additionally misplaced 2.56 photographs in strokes gained across the greens, which ranked 147th out of 156 ladies.

But, she birdied the 12, which was one in all her solely shiny moments. She would make only one birdie, including six bogeys and a triple.

It was not her day on the golf course, and nothing appeared to go proper for her.

The identical could possibly be mentioned for Zhang, the younger phenom who headed into this occasion contemporary off a win on the Cognizant Founder’s Cup.

Photograph by Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs

Zhang struggled together with her flat stick. She ranked 144th within the discipline in strokes gained placing, dropping 2.7 photographs. To make issues worse, the 21-year-old solely hit 8-of-18 greens in regulation and 7-of-14 fairways.

Granted, she made par on essentially the most difficult gap, however the 2-time LPGA winner solely recorded one birdie throughout her spherical. Zhang tallied seven bogeys and even made a double-bogey on the par-5 seventh.

Korda, Thompson, and Zhang have all however eradicated themselves from rivalry on the U.S. Ladies’s Open. This observe made one of the best gamers wrestle, which additionally occurred final 12 months at Pebble Seaside. Hopefully, they are going to see enchancment throughout Friday’s spherical and make the weekend.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. For extra golf protection, you should definitely observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You too can observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.