Scot sets pace for second year running in LPGA's team event

Baby talk helped Gemma Dryburgh and Nicole Broch Estrup secure a share of the first-round lead in the LPGA’s Dow Championship in Michigan.

The Scottish-Danish duo opened with a three-under-par 67 at Midland Country Club to set the pace along with Camille Boyd/Michelle Zhang and Gurleen Kaur/Hira Vaveed.

“Very easy,” declared Broch Estrup of the pair’s effort in the first-day foursomes format. “Just put it in the fairway and Gemma was stiffing it all day. Yeah, it worked out really well.”

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh is setting the pace in the LPGA Tour’s Dow Championship for the second year running | Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Pairing up together for the first time, Dryburgh and Broch Estrup signed for five birdies and two bogeys.

“Yeah, we had those two bogeys on two and three, but other than that we played super solid. We didn't even make any long, long putts,” added Broch Estrup.

It’s the second time that Dryburgh has led in the event after the first round, having also set the pace when she joined forces last year with Cassie Porter. “Yeah. It was pretty stress-free, which was nice,” said the Scot of this opening salvo.

The pair are two of the newest mums on the LPGA, with Dryburgh’s son Max and Broch Estruip’s son Leo both being born towards the end of last year.

“Yeah, I think most of what we talked about was or sons today,” admitted Dryburgh, smiling. “Obviously Max is a little older than Leo, but we're kind of going through the same things, which is pretty cool.”

World No 1 Nelly Korda and Olivia Cowan opened with a par-70 to sit joint-16th heading into the second-day fourball format.

Bob MacIntyre opens with 68 in Canada

Meanwhile, Bob MacIntyre opened the RBC Canadian Open with a two-under-par 68 at TPC Toronto, where six players set the pace with 64s.

MacIntyre, the 2024 winner, opened with a birdie and also picked up one late on in a round that otherwise contained a flurry of pars.

Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, who is chasing a first win since his return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf, is among the players in a logjam for the lead.