Ashleigh Buhai made an eagle and four birdies on Thursday in a strong six-under-par start in the first round of the Ford Championship presented by KCC at Seville Golf and Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona.
Buhai started her round in the LPGA Tour tournament on the 10th, and made eight pars in a row before making eagle on the par-five 18th ahead of the turn. She followed that up with birdies on two and three, and seven and eight. That put her in a share of ninth place.
Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand took the first-round lead with a nine-under-par 63 late in the day. A shot back of her lead sit six players in a tie for second at eight-under: Epson Tour graduate Isi Gabsa, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz, major champion Lilia Vu and 2024 rookie Gabriela Ruffels.
Paula Reto got her first round started on the first hole, and she made four birdies and a bogey on her way to a three-under-par 69. That put her in a share of 52nd place.
