Ashleigh Buhai carded a one-under-par 71 on Thursday in the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey.
The reigning AIG Women’s Open champion made three birdies and two bogeys, and was in a share of 30th behind leader Sei Young Kim of the Republic of Korea, who was bogey-free for her six-under 66. Kim’s compatriot Hae Ran Ryu was in second on five-under, and there were nine players in a share of third on four-under.
On a crowded leaderboard, there were 13 players on three-under, and five on two-under, all ahead of Buhai. Buhai shared 30th with 14 other players.
Paula Reto opened with a two-over-par 74 to be in a share of 80th.
