Stephania Croce carves course record to lead in Denmark
Stephania Croce fired a brilliant course record of seven-under-par 65 to take a one shot lead after the first round of the Nykredit Masters at Odense Eventyr Golfklubb in Denmark .
The 36-year-old Italian, who is 70 th on the Ladies European Tour's New Star Money List, carded five birdies and an eagle at the par-five 18 th . She played the back nine, which was her front nine, in five-under 31 and came home in 34.
Johanna Waldh of Sweden had a 66 to trail by one stroke, while Denmark 's Mianne Bagger continued her run of good form from last week's Finnair Masters by posting a 67.
Croce, from Bergamo , whose sole Tour win was at the 1992 Ford Ladies Classic, said: The main thing that I was concentrating on was my pre-shot routine. I watched Annika and Lorena Ochoa play in Sweden and they were ready to hit every time. I am trying to put a little bit of their game into my game. It worked today.
Croce's best finish this season was a tie for eighth place in the Ladies Open of Portugal and she attributed her resurgence to feeling comfortable on the golf course.
I love the golf course and the conditions are great. It reminds me a little bit of the United States , she said. It's just perfect: perfect greens and difficult rough around them.
Waldh, a photogenic blonde from Landskrona, is 140 th on the New Star Money List and hitting form at the right time of the season with just three events on the 2006 schedule remaining.
Waldh will need to finish inside the top 80 on the tour's final exemption ranking if she is to keep her card for the 2007 season.
She said: I'm trying not to think too much about it. I'm okay with going to Q School and I've kind of resigned myself to it. I'm trying to keep some pressure off myself. It's been a tough season.
Waldh's round included five birdies, one bogey and an eagle at the par-five 15 th where she hit a long drive and put her three-wood to ten feet.
I think this course suits me because it's quite open so I don't put too much pressure on myself with my tee shots. The putter was working nicely, she said.
Bagger, who carded seven birdies and two bogeys, was delighted with her 67. She finished tied for 15 th in last week's Finnair Masters after a 66 in the second round, which took her to 111 th in the New Star Money List.
People ask me why I've suddenly started playing well but I've been working hard for a while and I knew at some point the game had to come together, said Bagger, who famously joined the LET at the end of 2004 but then failed to keep her full card for the 2006 season. She is playing on a sponsor's invitation this week.
I'm a good putter and have a good long game and it was just a while before I could escape from the pressure. I had a bunch of determination as well. I decided I didn't want to make silly mistakes any more and I've improved my focus.
Germany's Martina Eberl carded a 68 to finish alone in fourth position while Welsh player Becky Brewerton, New Zealand's Lynn Brooky, Emma Zackrisson of Sweden and Italy's Barbara Paruscio finished on three-under 69.
A further nine players finished on two-under-par including the defending champion Iben Tinning of Demark and England's Laura Davies, who won in Norway two weeks ago.
Davies said: I'm five behind Stephania so there's a lot of work to do tomorrow and in the week ahead.
I drove it well but missed so many putts and a lot of birdie chances. Maybe the irons can be a bit closer tomorrow and then the putts will be easier.
It was nice to finish with a birdie putt. I'm a lot happier than I would be otherwise two under is much better than one.
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