China’s Yin makes ‘wind her friend’ to sit one shot off lead at blustery British Open
- Yin Ruoning cards 4-under-par 68 to end first round a stoke behind England’s Charley Hull at St Andrews
England’s Charley Hull enjoyed a superb finish, with four birdies on the back nine on the Old Course at St Andrews, to lead the Women’s British Open with a five-under par opening round of 67.
China’s Yin Ruoning was a shot further back after battling the worst of the windy conditions, and had reached six-under through 14 before dropping a couple of shots on the way home.
Bidding for her first major title after finishing runner-up in both last year’s Women’s British Open and Women’s US Open, Hull was in a star-studded group that also featured defending champion Lilia Vu and world No 1 Nelly Korda.
“I would take that 100 per cent,” the 28-year-old said. “I’m happy with that score, and I’m just looking forward to going out tomorrow and being patient again.”
The trio clearly brought the best in each other’s games, with Korda – who won the season’s first major, the Chevron Championship – in a tie for second on four-under and Vu one of several players a stroke further back.
Yin, a former world No 1, started her day on the 10th hole, and said making “the wind my friend” had helped her to a hugely creditable four-under 68, on a day when gusts reached up to 30 miles an hour.
