It is a two-way tie at the top of the leaderboard as Chloe Williams and Marianne Skarpnord both finished Day One of the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open on eight-under-par.
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There is a big Indian turnout this week, and leading the pack is Aditi Ashok with a round of 2-under 70 at T28.
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Williams, who went out in the second group this morning, set the clubhouse lead after shooting a bogey-free round of 64 which included eight birdies.
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“It was very solid. I have great memories of this golf course – I did very well here last year. My game seems to fit this course. I have had a great couple of preparation days, and I felt like today was going to be a good day,” said Williams, who came T15 at this tournament in 2020.
“You’re not guaranteed to hole all the putts, but I think we have had a good draw. We were out second group, had fresh greens and everything was pristine. I played very good golf and I’m very happy.”
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The Welshwoman has had two top-ten finishes this season and led after the first round of the Creekhouse Ladies Open last week.
She added: “I learnt a lot from last week. My game has been solid all year, it is September now and anything can happen. The conditions are going to be very good; I don’t think the course will change considerably. I need to just focus on me and take control of what I can and keep doing what I have been doing.”
Skarpnord produced an excellent round of 64 herself to be in a share of the lead with the highlight of her day being her hole-in-one at the par-3 15th – her second of the 2021 season.
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“It was a nice 8-iron, tiny draw and apparently bounced once and then went in the hole. It was a combination of a good shot and a little bit of luck,” said the Norwegian.
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The five-time LET winner made four birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 31 and looked set to be the new leader, but a bogey on 18 ensured she joined Williams on eight-under.
“It was beautiful this morning with not much wind – it probably picked up the last four or five holes. I played very solid today. Last week in Sweden, I didn’t hole a putt over a metre,” said the Aramco Team Series – London winner.
“Finally, after I changed putter, I am actually using Tonje’s (Tonje Daffinrud) putter this week, I holed some putts, and it gave me a bit of confidence and I started to hit my irons better and it was a nice calm day.”
Four players are tied for third place on seven-under-par including Swiss amateur Elena Moosmann, who is 13th in the LET Access Series Order of Merit.
Birdies galore in 🇨🇭#RaiseOurGame | #VPBankSwissLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/EWJrqepRAy
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 9, 2021
An eagle, six birdies and one bogey contributed to the Zug native’s fantastic round, and she was pleased to have the opportunity to play on her home course at Golfpark Holzhäusern.
“It was beautiful. Normally it is in great shape anyway, so I’m used to it, but it was amazing to play on my home course. It is always nice to have people supporting you. It was great to have them there,” said the 19-year-old. “Hopefully I will have a great round again and I just want to enjoy it.”
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