Lauren Coughlin and South Korea’s Jenny Shin are tied at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Scottish Open, both carding 6-under-par 66s Thursday at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Coughlin, who captured the Scottish Open title in 2024, put together a round featuring eight birdies and two bogeys. She noted that the course played very differently from what she was used to, thanks to a recent heat wave sweeping across Europe that left the fairways unusually firm.
“It was pretty difficult out there,” Coughlin said. “I’ve not ever really played it when it’s been this firm, especially off the tee, so quite a few different things off the tee than normal where I used to be able to hit the driver a lot of places.”
Shin, who — like Coughlin — began her round on the back nine, recorded seven birdies on the day, including three consecutive birdies on her first three par-5 holes.
“It’s playing a little shorter than the years past when it was quite wet out here,” Shin said. “And the fact I was able to reach the par-5s and take advantage of making the birdies there, and having a few 58-degree wedges coming into the green helped. I was able to get my ball within 15 feet and when I did have the chance for birdie, I did make it. So it was a good day.”
South Korea’s A Lim Kim is just one stroke back at 67, while Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson shot a 69 — the only other score below 70 in the 144-golfer field.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished the day at 2-over-par 72, placing her in a tie for 14th. Playing alongside Korda, England’s Lottie Woad — the reigning champion — got off to a rocky start with a double bogey on the third hole and a bogey on the fourth before steadying herself to finish at 74.
“There were a few interesting pin placements on the front nine with the wind,” Woad said, “and tough to get it close really and didn’t make enough putts to really be under par. But for me, 2-over is not disastrous. Still going to be in it. A day of not trying to play yourself out of it, really.”
