Leona Maguire sits in a five-way tie for second after the opening round of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, utilising the calmer weather conditions for the early morning groups.
Maguire could not have asked for a better start, holing out for eagle on the 10th hole as she began her round on the back nine.
“Couldn’t really ask for a better start. Holed out with a 9-iron on 10, our first hole today in pretty much perfect conditions for most of the front nine. I tried to take advantage of that as much as I could,” she said.
Maguire debuted her new partnership with renowned caddie, Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morley in fine fashion, commanding the links greens with help from her accurate approach play.
“My approach is nicely dialed and first week, put in a new caddie. He was joking, he might as well have walked in after the first but nice start to the feedback,” she said.
It wasn’t all so easy for her fellow Irish companion as 24-year-old Lauren Walsh struggled to find form, finishing her round five over par.
The Kildare native began her day with a double bogey and followed it up with a bogey on the second hole. She battled on, managing three birdies during a hot streak between holes seven and 12 but ultimately succumbed to the brutal nature of links golf, finishing her final six holes with five bogeys.
Charlotte Laffar didn’t let an early bogey dictate round one as the 32-year-old finished the day top of the pack on six-under-par.
A professional golfer since 2013, Laffar is looking for her first professional win, and today’s performance has shown that it may come sooner than later.
Lottie Woad backed up her KPMG Women’s Irish Open win as an amateur by putting on a stellar display, competing as a professional for the first time sitting alongside Maguire in a tie for second.
Woad, laser-like in her approach play hitting 16/18 greens in regulation, felt no pressure in taking the anticipated leap into the professional golf world.
“I mean, it didn’t feel too different today. I think having all the experience I’ve had in majors and contending gave me all I needed and didn’t really have to change much,” she said.
Paired with Woad were Nelly Korda and Charley Hull who both unsurprisingly carded rounds that would lead you to believe that they are well in contention.
Hull finished one-under, with Korda amongst the top of the back with a very impressive 68.
“(I) Capitalized on some really good holes. Played the par 5s really well today. The weather was beautiful in the morning and then progressively got a little windier, which I was expecting. But overall, very happy with my round,” said Korda.
Making her competitive debut at Dundonald Links, Korda did well to fight the elements to keep her in contention.
“It’s softer compared to the links that I typically played. But it gets windy out here. I played Monday where it was no wind. I played this morning where there was no wind but all of a sudden, it’s a flip of a switch and it gets so windy out here and makes it very difficult,” she said.
2024 champion Lauren Coughlin began her week with a strong showing, finishing round one on three-under-par as she looks to mimic her efforts of last year – winning at Dundonald Links by four strokes.
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