Lincicome Takes Over Lead at Evian Masters


Brittany Lincicome followed up her opening 4-under 67 with a 65 to supplant first-round pacesetter Hyo-Joo Kim atop the leaderboard in the Evian Masters. The $3.25 million event, the fifth and final major of the year on the LPGA Tour, started Thursday at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Lincicome, a 28-year-old from Florida, posted six birdies and two bogeys in the opening round. Her card was much cleaner Friday as the five-time winner had three birdies on each her front and back nines to reach 10-under 132.

Her last title came over three years ago in the Canadian Women's Open; Lincicome also has a major to her credit, the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

"It's been a while since I won," she told reporters. "Obviously, it's still in my memory, and I can still pull from those events, and put them into play and tell myself, `You've been here before and done this before. There is no reason why I shouldn't be standing on 18 Sunday holding that trophy.' "

Lincicome is hoping to continue going low in hopes of having a big lead come Sunday afternoon. "I really, one of these days, would love to win a golf tournament by five or 10 strokes, so when I am walking down 18, I can be all smiley and waving and having a good time and not, like, super-stressed, ready to, like, explode inside," Lincicome said.

"That's my next goal, to win a tournament by a bunch of strokes. The pressure is difficult to handle."

Kim got off to a rousing start with a course- and tournament-record-setting 10-under 61. Kim's 61 was also the lowest opening round ever in a major championship, for men or women. But the 19-year-old South Korean couldn't sustain the magic Friday, posting three birdies against four bogeys for a 1-over 72 and a two-day total of 133.

Three behind Lincicome is Mi Jung Hur (69), while four back are defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who also shot 69, and Australian Karrie Webb (71).

Sharing sixth at 137 are No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis (67), Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn (68) and New Zealand's Lydia Ko (68). Tied for ninth at 138 are Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (67), South Koreans I.K. Kim (69) and Amy Yang (70), and Colombia's Mariajo Uribe (70).

Lewis's game has been in a bit of a lull lately. The 29-year-old won twice this year, with her most recent victory coming in June's NW Arkansas Championship. She's pleased to get going in a tournament where she's twice finished as runner-up.

"Probably one of the most solid rounds I've put together in a while," she said of her 4-under effort.

In her professional debut, Australia's Minjee Lee carded a 67 to rise into solo 13th at 3-under 139. The 18-year-old had six birdies and two bogeys Friday. "My putting really helped today," said Lee, who was the world's top-ranked female amateur before turning pro.

"I wasn't hitting it that close, but I think my putting really saved me. Yesterday there was a bit of nerves, but today was much better. I feel like it [being a professional] should be different, but I feel really comfortable and like I belong here."

One of the pre-tournament favorites, So Yeon Ryu, was disqualified for tapping in on the fourth hole after bending the shaft of her putter. The 24-year-old South Korean won last month's Canadian Women's Open and entered the Evian Masters ranked fifth in the Rolex Rankings.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.