Chevron Championship 2022 R1

March 31 - April 03
Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore Tournament Course
Rancho Mirage, California
$5,000,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

American Jennifer Kupcho carded a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a share of the opening lead in the year's first major, the Chevron Championship.

Chevron Championship 2022 R1

"Honestly, I think it's just being comfortable on this golf course. I get here and I just, I feel comfortable. I love this place.

"I really like the layout of this golf course, the beautiful shape that it's in every year. It always is so fun to be here, so just taking advantage of how much I like the course and the atmosphere."

Chevron Championship 2022 R1

Kupcho joined Minjee Lee of Australia who held the early lead after a bogey-free round.

"It was perfect," said Lee. "Not like a breath of wind when we played. Maybe just a tiny bit. But conditions are great. Putting greens are rolling real nice. I don't think you can get better than that."

Chevron Championship 2022 R1

World number 4 Lee won her first major last year at the Evian Championship for her sixth LPGA title.

"I know I have one under my belt, but I do want a little bit more. I just think I have a little bit more belief in myself and my game, so I can be a little bit more comfortable just hitting the shots."

This is last year Mission Hills will host the tournament that started in 1972 as the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle and became a major in 1983. Sponsors are unwilling to remain and the event will move to Houston next year.

Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand lies one shot back in solo third place after signing for the lowest opening round by a defending champion since the event became a major.

Tied in fourth place at 4-under are England's Georgia Hall, New Zealand's Lydia Ko, Australia's Gabriela Ruffels, Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, Germany's Caroline Masson and Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn.

Chevron Championship 2022 R1