Ladies European Tour rookie Sarah Nicholson is the outright leader following the first round of the UNIQA Ladies Golf Open presented by Raiffeisen in Austria.
Nicholson posted a five-under-par 67 on Thursday afternoon after heavy rain at Golfclub Föhrenwald in Wiener Neustadt, near Vienna. Weather conditions caused the first round to be stretched over two days and the 72-hole tournament was reduced to 54-holes.
A total of 30 players began their first rounds on Friday, but none could catch Nicholson, who takes a one stroke lead into the weekend.
The 22-year-old New Zealander was one of a handful of players to complete 18 holes on Thursday, despite a five-and-a-half hour delay in the morning due to flooded greens.
She carded six birdies – including three in her last four holes – and one bogey, and now holds a one-stroke lead over Italy’s Diana Luna in second place on four-under-par.
Luna began her first round on Friday morning but her tee-time was delayed by a further two hours after another session of heavy rain.
The 25-year-old, who was the Tenerife Ladies Open champion in 2004, made up for lost time, storming to a four-under 68, which included four birdies on the front nine. She also birdied the newly-reconstructed dogleg 13th and the 18th, but dropped single shots on the tenth and 17th.
Three players share a tie for third place on three-under-par. Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, who won last week’s De Vere Ladies Scottish Open and who is the defending champion carded a faultless 69 to sit alongside fellow Swede Elin Ohlsson and England’s Laura Davies, whose round included an eagle at the par-five tenth and a triple bogey at the par-four 13th.
Gustafson said: “I didn't think it played that easy today with the wind so I'm very happy with my three-under.
”I had a few more chances but I never assume to make everything so I'm still happy.
”So far so good. I don't think I started off with three-under last year so I'm already ahead of last year.”
Financial restrictions have limited Nicholson to just six appearances on the Ladies European Tour this season, having qualified for her card at the end of 2006. Her best finish was a tie for 28th place at the Northern Ireland Ladies Open in June.
The Kiwi was delighted with her opening round score, and admitted she had no idea she was performing so well until after her round had finished.
“I didn’t really notice that I shot five-under on the back nine so I was surprised when I looked at my card,” she said. “I just let it happen, really.
“I’ve played pretty good and I hit the ball well off the tee, which you kind of have to do round here.”
Nicholson splits her time between the Swedish-based Telia Tour and the Ladies European Tour and said that her decision to play in Austria was influenced by her desire to earn full playing rights next season.
“I didn’t have enough money to come over for the whole year and get my full card,” said Nicholson, who spends a lot of time in Birmingham with her relatives between tournaments.
“I came here (Europe) for three months to warm up for Q-School.
“I would say that I am just trying to get experience this year. I was a bit disappointed that I missed out on my full card, but it has definitely made me work a lot harder this year and work on my game.”
Luna’s best finish of the year came at the SAS Masters in Norway at the end of August, and she put herself on track to better it with a fine first round in Austria.
“I started really well. I had some nice putts before the two bogeys,” said Luna, who did not begin her first round until 11.10am on Friday. “It was a very, very nice round anyway.
“I played slightly better on the front nine, so I didn’t find it so hard.”
Elsewhere, Nicole Gergely is the highest placed Austrian, sharing 18th place on level par with 14 other players, while compatriot Daniela Wagner is the top-ranked amateur in a tie for 34th on one-over-par.
The cut, to 60 players and ties, is set to take place after Saturday’s second round. There is new order of play for round two, which means that the leaders will tee-off last on Saturday.
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