Intro:

Catriona Matthew took the first-round lead Thursday (22 May) in the Airbus LPGA Classic, holing a bunker shot for an eagle and finishing with an eight-under-par round of 64.

Script:

Golfers and crowds alike were welcomed by a spectacular day of sunshine in Alabama as the Airbus LPGA Classic got underway on Thursday.

Catriona Matthew topped the leaderboard from Charley Hull after the opening round.

Matthew's round of 64 left her one shot clear of Hull, with Ji Eun-Hee, Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis tied for third.

The 44-year-old Matthew started on the back nine and made a rocky start as she bogeyed the par-four 12th.

But the Scot immediately recovered with an eagle on the par-five 13th, and a run of four straight birdies powered her into the lead.

Stacy Lewis, the 2012 winner, was in fine putting form on the fifth hole, where she made birdie to reach six-under-par.

The Texan won the North Texas LPGA Shootout three weeks ago for her ninth tour title.

Suzann Pettersen also did well with a chip from well off the green on the 13th hole.

Pettersen, playing her fourth event since returning from a back injury, had a bogey-free round and a birdie on the 15th took her to six-under-par.

Charley Hull also went around the course without recording a bogey as she closed the day with a round of 65.

She birdied seven holes, including the final two, to finish her round at seven-under-par.