Aditi Ashok cards 70 at Evian Championship; Aki Iwai leads at 8-under 63
Synopsis
Japan's Aki Iwai fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 — one of the most stunning Major opening rounds in recent memory — to lead the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship by two shots. India's Aditi Ashok, in her ninth appearance at this Major, carded a steady 1-under 70 but faces a seven-shot deficit heading into round two.
Key Takeaways
Aditi Ashok opened with a 1-under 70 , placing her tied-35th after round one of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship .
Japan's Aki Iwai leads the field with a bogey-free 8-under 63 , two shots clear of second place.
France's Perrine Delacour is sole second at 6-under 65 , her career-best Major opening round.
A group of five players — including Charley Hull and Maja Stark — share third at 5-under 66 .
The cut falls after Friday's second round; the top 65 players and ties advance to the weekend.
Aditi trails Iwai by seven shots and has recorded only one top-25 finish in eight previous Evian starts .
India's Aditi Ashok opened her 2026 Amundi Evian Championship campaign with a composed 1-under 70 at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, placing her tied-35th after the first round of the prestigious women's Major. Japan's Aki Iwai stole the show with a flawless 8-under 63 to seize the overnight lead by two shots.
Aditi's Opening Round
The 28-year-old Indian, a five-time winner on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the 2016 Hero Women's Indian Open champion, is appearing at the Evian Championship for the ninth time. She has managed only one top-25 finish in her previous eight outings at this Major, making the current campaign a significant opportunity to reset that record.
Aditi began on the front nine, mixing two birdies and two bogeys before the turn. An early bogey on the back nine threatened to derail her round, but she recovered with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to sign for a 1-under 70 — a balanced card of four birdies and three bogeys that keeps her comfortably inside the projected cut line. She trails overnight leader Iwai by seven shots.
Iwai's Sensational 63
Japan's Aki Iwai, 24, produced one of the most eye-catching opening rounds in recent Major history, firing a bogey-free 8-under 63 to lead the field by two shots. The LPGA Tour winner started quietly before finding her rhythm with birdies on the 5th, 7th, and 9th holes. She continued her charge on the back nine with consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th, followed by another pair on the 15th and 16th, and sealed the round with a closing birdie on the 18th.
Leaderboard Highlights
France's Perrine Delacour delighted the home crowd with a career-best Major opening round, carding a 6-under 65 to take sole second place. The two-time LET winner produced a highlight-reel performance that included an eagle on the 15th and back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th in her opening nine holes, before recovering from two dropped shots to stay firmly in contention.
A five-player group shares third at 5-under 66, comprising England's Charley Hull, Sweden's Maja Stark, South Korea's Haeran Ryu and Jin Hee Im, and Japan's Mao Saigo. World No. 5 Hull, a five-time LET winner, recovered from early bogeys to sign for a 66 that included a spectacular eagle on the final hole. Stark, a six-time LET winner and Major champion, enjoyed a bogey-free outing with five birdies. England's Cara Gainer and Lottie Woad are among those tied eighth at 4-under 67.
What Aditi Needs Next
The cut falls after Friday's second round, with the top 65 players and ties advancing to the weekend. Aditi, currently tied-35th, will need to climb the leaderboard significantly in round two to remain in weekend contention and register only her second top-25 finish at the Evian Championship. With a world-class field in play, the margin for error narrows sharply from here.
Point of View
Eight under, and built on relentless ball-striking rather than fortune. For Aditi Ashok, the seven-shot gap is steep but not insurmountable on a course where leaderboards routinely compress. The more pressing question is whether Aditi can convert a promising opening into a top-25 finish, something she has managed only once in eight previous Evian appearances. At 28, with her LET pedigree and course familiarity, this is arguably her best realistic window — but only if round two delivers movement, not consolidation.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Aditi Ashok perform in round one of the 2026 Evian Championship?
Aditi Ashok carded a 1-under 70 in the opening round, placing her tied-35th. She made four birdies and three bogeys, including a strong back-nine recovery with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.
Who is leading the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship after round one?
Japan's Aki Iwai leads the field after firing a bogey-free 8-under 63, two shots ahead of France's Perrine Delacour, who is sole second at 6-under 65.
What is the cut format at the 2026 Evian Championship?
The cut is made after the second round on Friday. The top 65 players and ties advance to the final two rounds of the championship.
How many times has Aditi Ashok played at the Evian Championship?
The 2026 edition is Aditi Ashok's ninth appearance at the Evian Championship. She has recorded only one top-25 finish in her previous eight starts at the Major.
Who are the other contenders near the top of the leaderboard?
Five players share third place at 5-under 66, including England's Charley Hull (World No. 5), Sweden's Maja Stark, South Korea's Haeran Ryu and Jin Hee Im, and Japan's Mao Saigo. England's Cara Gainer and Lottie Woad are among those tied eighth at 4-under 67.
