Ally Ewing leads AIG Women’s Open after first round at Walton Heath

WALTON-ON-THE-HILL, England — The United States is seeking its third female major champion of 2023 at the AIG Women’s Open this week.

Few would have predicted Ally Ewing leading the charge.

Full-field scores from the AIG Women’s Open

Ewing made eagle from 5 feet at the par-5 16th to leapfrog a five-way tie for first place and parred the last two holes to shoot 4-under 68 for the solo lead at Walton Heath in the opening round of the year’s final major.

Ranked No. 39, Ewing missed the cut in two of the last three majors and her most recent top-10 finish in the biggest events in golf came at the Chevron Championship in early 2021.

“I set myself a little bit of a target, although this is probably…