Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland and Nicole Broch Estrup of Denmark were one of three teams to shoot a 3-under-par 67 to share the lead at the first round of the Dow Championship on Thursday at Midland (Mich.) Country Club.
Dryburgh and Broch Estrup are tied with Camille Boyd and China’s Michelle Zhang as well as Gurleen Kaur and Australia’s Hira Naveed. Nine teams posted a 2-under 68, including twin sisters Chizzy and Aki Iwai of Japan, the Swedish duo of Linn Grant and Maja Stark and Ireland’s Leona Maguire playing with Lindy Duncan.
The LPGA’s lone team event features 72 two-woman teams. They’ll play foursomes (alternate shot) on Thursday and four-ball (best ball) on Friday; after a 36-hole cut, it will be foursomes on Saturday and four-ball on Sunday.
Foursomes is considered the more challenging of the two formats, but Dryburgh and Broch Estrup weren’t fazed as they converted five birdies. Their only stumble was consecutive bogeys at Nos. 2-3 after opening with three birdies on the back nine.
Dryburgh and Broch Estrup have more than golf in common. Both recently became mothers.
“I think most of what we talked about was our sons today,” Dryburgh said.
Dryburgh said her son is a little older than Broch Estrup’s, but bonding over motherhood came naturally.
“And in general it gives another perspective on life,” Broch Estrup said. “Especially this week is all about having fun, and playing with another mom is just — you know, we had a lot of fun today and, again, it was stress-free.”
Zhang and Boyd also turned in a card with five birdies and two bogeys. Both rookies, the 21-year-old Zhang and 23-year-old Boyd are hunting for their first LPGA victories.
“I think it’s just super exciting,” Zhang said. “We haven’t had the best season this year so far, but just going out there we’re always nervous. But kind of putting it into perspective this week. Hitting a bad shot, it’s OK. Like I know Camille got me.”
Likewise, Kaur and Naveed are searching for their first wins after each joined the tour in 2024. They were happy with their strategy of Kaur teeing off on the odd-numbered holes and Naveed taking the evens, with Naveed adding that Kaur “holed some phenomenal putts.”
“I think we encouraged each other really well today, and, again, that goes with our friendship and just being comfortable with each other and being able to pick each other up when we’re feeling down,” Naveed said.
Duncan and Maguire could be a team to watch. Maguire has plenty of team golf experience playing the Solheim Cup and is hungry to end a nearly two-year winless rut.
“I think you come off one the most stressful weeks of the year at the U.S. Open at (Riviera Country Club) to somewhere like this is definitely a nice break, but it’s also a week you really want to do well at,” Maguire said. “It’s a different kind of golf.”
Juli Inkster, the 65-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer, entered the tournament with Angel Yin and the pair opened with a 1-under 69. Inkster is in fine shape to become the oldest player to make the cut in an LPGA event, something she nearly accomplished last summer but missed by one stroke at the Standard Portland Classic.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, winner of the first two majors of the year, teamed up with Germany’s Olivia Cowan and opened with an even-par 70. South Korea’s Somi Lee and Jin Hee Im, the defending champions, also shot 70.
–Field Level Media
