Day one of the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open had just about every season and Jessica Ross had just about every score on her card but she was delighted to survive the conditions and lead the way after the opening round at Royal Troon.
Teeing off in the worst of the weather in the afternoon, the Clandeboye star carded a two-under 70 to lead by one from England’s Grace Bowen as she carded an eagle and a double bogey along the way.
Starting on the back nine, Ross was over-par early after a bogey on 14 but she hit the turn in style with back to back birdies on 15 and 16. The European Mid-Amateur champion eagled the par-5 1st in style before a freakish incident where she lost a ball cost her a double bogey on the 2nd. The chemical engineer kept things together with a birdie on the 7th to preserve her spot at the top.
“I was very consistent, had to keep the ball in play, although I did lose a ball on the second! But had a few birdies to make up for it so happy enough,” said Ross who holed out from the bunker for birdie on the par-3 16th.
“Didn’t hit a great tee shot on the 16th into the bunker right then slam dunked it so that was pretty cool! Eagled the first, my tenth so was fairly solid, hit the green in two and held a 10-footer that was nice to keep the score going.”
Royal Troon has been good to Irish golf recently with Roisin Scanlon winning this championship twelve months ago as she became the fifth Irish winner of the event since its inception in 1973. But becoming the sixth Irish winner isn’t the only reason why Ross keeps coming back here.
“We had all seasons today, rain, hail, sunshine so just delighted to be in. I love getting to play Troon every year, it’s a really nice location. I’m a big foodie so I look forward to my dinner every night so that keeps me coming back.”
Anna Abom is next best of the Irish in ninth place on four-over after a respectable round of 76 with Aideen Walsh a shot further back.
Scoring HERE
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