Coughlin, Shin, take 1st-round lead with 66s at the LPGA's Scottish Open

TROON, Scotland (AP) — American Lauren Coughlin and South Korea’s Jenny Shin shot 6-under 66s Thursday to take a one-stroke lead at the LPGA Tour's Scottish Open at wind-swept Dundonald Links.

>The 33-year-old Shin began the day from the 10th with a birdie and added further birdies on the 12th, 14th and 18th holes to make the turn in 4-under.

>“On this golf course, the tee shots are pretty crucial,” said Shin. “I really focused on getting my tee shots on the fairway, and it’s really dried out, so it’s playing a little shorter than the year’s past when it was quite wet out here."

>Coughlin, who won the Aramco Championship in April, won the Scottish Open in 2024. She had eight birdies and two bogeys Thursday.

>“I knew it was going to be playing difficult out there," Coughlin said. "I felt like I had a really good game plan and executed really well and made a few putts. It was windy, even in the practice round days, so I feel like I had gotten a good feel for it. Just good game plan and good execution today as well.

>South Korea’s A Lim Kim was in third place after a 67 while Lisa Pettersson was a stroke behind in fourth.

>Four players were tied for fifth with 70s — Germany’s Esther Henseleit, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and the Japanese duo of Erika Hara and Miyu Yamashita.

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>AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf