Johansson leads LA Championship, Maguire struggles

Linnea Johansson of Sweden posted a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead after one round of the inaugural JM Eagle LA Championship in Los Angeles, where Leona Maguire looks to be in a battle to make the cut.

Johansson nosed ahead of world No. 6 Minjee Lee of Australia and Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland, who are tied for second at Wilshire Country Club at 6-under 65.

Danielle Kang, Caroline Inglis and India's Aditi Ashok shot 5-under 66 to forma tie for fourth.

Ireland's Maguire is 10 shots off the pace after an up down round that say her sign for a +3 round of 74.

Maguire started well enough with a birdie on the third hole, but a bogey on the fifth and a double bogey on the seventh saw her make the turn in 37. Another double bogey followed on the fifth before back-to-back birdies undid some of the damage, while she finish with a further bogey on the 18th.

With the projected cut at level par, Maguire has a fight on her hands to be involved with the weekend's action.

Stephanie Meadow is in better shape and she sits on -1 after a steady opening round that feature two birdies and a bogey.

Not only has Johansson never won on the LPGA Tour, her best career finish in anon-team event was a tie for 30th. She is 0-for-2 in making the cut this season.

"Obviously it's been a little ride for me the past couple of years, struggling a little bit out here," Johansson said. "The girls are good. It's the best players in the world, so it should be tough, and so it is. It's tough for everybody.

"But days when it clicks and when you really hit the shots that you want and manage to roll putts in, that's the days you really enjoy it a little bit more, and it's competitive out here, but starting off the tournament here like this, it's great."

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