Lauren Walsh covered her final seven holes in three-under to card an opening round of 70 that leaves her tied for 20th at -2 at the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana at Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf.
The Carton House touring pro is making her first appearance at the LET’s season-ending event and is looking to sign off on an impressive rookie season with the another strong finish and give herself a chance of capturing a maiden professional victory, but a birdie on the par-5 fourth hole was the only red square on her card on the way out, with bogeys at three and nine leaving her one-over at the turn.
She fought her way back to level-par with a birdie on 10, but immediately gave that shot back on the next. That dropped shot on 11 would be her final blemish of the day, and three birdies in the next four holes was just the spark that was required and she parred her way home for a -2 day tally.
“Solid start to the tournament. Not my best golf to start off on the front nine but turned it around nicely and found some form on the back nine,” said Walsh.
“Made four birdies which was nice and to go from there and get it back under par was the goal. Looking forward to enjoying the rest of the week.”
Noora Komulainen got off to a flying start with a round of 65 easing her way to the top of the leaderboard.
The Finnish player began her round from the 10th tee and rolled in three birdies in a row on 11, 12 and 13.
Komulainen dropped her only shot of the day on the 16th and then had a phenomenal nine holes on the front nine.
She made back-to-back birdies on the first and second before making further birdies on holes four, six and nine to sit at the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par.
“It was a really solid day to be honest,” said the Finn. “I think I hit almost all the fairways and my approaches were good. My putter was good, so that’s the secret today.
“It’s been a tough year, I really struggled this year. I had a really good three weeks at home. I worked on some things that I need to work on and I think that worked. I really enjoyed it today to be honest.
“I was already preparing for next year, so I knew that I have to play well this week because I’m 65th in the ranking at the moment. I was just enjoying myself on the golf course today. I think we always have a little of pressure which helps, but I didn’t feel too much pressure.”
Four players sit in a share of second place on six-under-par. German duo Helen Briem and Patricia Isabel Schmidt, India’s Pranavi Urs and Spain’s Ana Peláez Trivino all fired rounds of 66, with Spanish Solheim Cup star Carlotta Ciganda and Slovenian Pia Babnik one shot further adrift at -5.
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