Leona Maguire finally got back to tour life at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open after a delayed start due to bad weather at the Renaissance Club with heavy fog blanketing The Renaissance Club, pushing back starting tee times by two hours.
Teeing-off late in the afternoon it was always going to be a struggle to finish and time was eventually called on the Cavan native at 8:35pm as she was at the 17th on two-over par and with her closing holes to be completed this morning.
Maguire performed well in tough conditions with three bogeys and just the one birdie on her card and finds herself in T48 position with two holes to play.
At the head of proceedings is Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen who returned a four-under 67, including a tap-in birdie after a spectacular approach at No. 18.
“I had 26 putts, so that helps a lot. I didn’t hit it like super close but I made a couple of long ones, and I just tried to keep it in play,” said Broch Larsen, who played in the day’s second group and enjoyed relatively calm breezes compared to the afternoon’s steady winds. “I feel like that’s kind of the secret to links golf. Like you’ve got to just play the round and then you make your putt here and there, and yeah, I mean, then it’s 4-under.”
Broch Larsen has a one-stroke lead over five players, including her countrywoman Emily Kristine Pedersen. Pedersen opened with five birdies over her opening seven holes but lost her momentum with a double bogey at No. 8. She then parred her way in to finish at -3, where she is joined by Americans Jennifer Song and Amy Olson, Germany’s Olivia Cowan and Spain’s Azahara Munoz.
Danielle Kang, who came to Scotland having won the LPGA Tour’s last two events in Ohio, shot even-par 71 on Thursday and is tied for 22nd after 18 holes. 2017 Ladies Scottish Open winner Mi Hyang Lee opened with a 3-over 74 and is tied for 65th, while 2018 champion Ariya Jutanugarn did not finish her round, sitting +3 through 12 holes.
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