For the first tournament of the 2021 Epson Tour season, Celine Herbin looked to be in mid-season form. The 38-year-old Frenchwoman fired a 7-under par 65 on day one of the inaugural Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic, highlighted by six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 15th.

She leads the 132-player field at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz., after 18 holes, the first time she has held an outright first-round advantage at a LPGA-sanctioned tournament in her career.

“My eagle was a huge drive. We guessed 310-315 [yards], so a very good one and I had a little 6-iron to the flag,” said Herbin, who is making her first Epson Tour start since the 2016 Guardian Retirement Championship. “I landed two feet [from the hole] and it was almost a tap-in eagle, always good to have those kind of eagles.”

In 2014, Herbin finished in a tie for 35th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to first earn both LPGA and Epson Tour membership as a 2015 rookie. Competing this week at Longbow Golf Club, the same place she made her first start in an LPGA-family event, really brings her LPGA (and Epson Tour) careers full circle while sparking memories of when she started her journey on the United States-based Tours.

“It’s funny because 2015 was my first year on Epson Tour and this was my first event, so I was quite happy to come back” said Herbin, who tied for 40th in the 2015 Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. “I had a good feeling of this course. I like it and have been enjoying it. Today, my game was consistent and I was happy with my putting.”

As she sleeps on the lead, Herbin will strive to continue the solid play in her first competitive event since the 2020 Ladies European Tour season-finale Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open De Espana.

“I was quite looking forward to playing a tournament again after almost four months [off],” Herbin said. “I worked on my game during the winter and put in very good work, physically. Changed a few members of team with a new swing coach, new putting coach. All those things are going toward a good direction.”

HERBIN RACES OUT TO 18-HOLE ADVANTAGE IN EPSON TOUR SEASON OPENER

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