Iwai leads Evian Championship by two strokes; Korda struggles

Aki Iwai seized the lead at the Evian Championship, the season's third major on the women's elite golf tour. The 24-year-old Japanese golfer fired an impressive 63, featuring eight birdies, to hold a two-stroke advantage over France's Perrine Delacour.

In stark contrast, world number one Nelly Korda, who was considered a favorite to make history at Evian this year, endured a challenging round. She finished the day 11 strokes behind the leader, highlighting a significant gap in performance.

Iwai, currently ranked 27th in the world and a previous 10th-place finisher at Evian in 2024, credited her success to intense concentration and unwavering determination on the course. She specifically focused on improving her short game and putting in preparation for this tournament, complementing her already strong driving ability.

Among the competitors, only Swiss golfer Chiara Tamburlini is in contention on the Haut-Savoie course. She played to par and is currently in 58th place.