SOUTH AFRICAN ROOKIE

LEADS PAM GOLDING

INTERNATIONAL

Stacy Bregman, the South African who beat top qualifier Azahara Munoz (Spain) in the first round of the match-play stages of the British women's open amateur championship at Royal County Down, has made a promising start in her first tournament as a professional in South Africa.
Stacy, pictured right, claimed a two-stroke lead in the first round of the Pam Golding Ladies International at Dainfern Country Club, Johannesburg.
Bregman, who turned professional after winning the world amateur team championship with Ashleigh Simon and Kelli Shean and immediately qualified for the Ladies European Tour, opened with a seven-under-par 66.
The young star carded seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to head the field from English women's title-holder and 2006 Curtis Cup player Kiran Matharu, who posted a 68.
Another former English amateur champion, Rebecca Hudson and South African rookie professional in Lee-Anne Pace were next best with rounds of four under 69.
Defending champion Nora Angehrn opened with a one under 72, while amateur sensation Ashleigh Simon signed for a level par 73.
“I played really well and everything was going exactly where I wanted it to,” said Bregman, who returned home from the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School confident of claiming a maiden victory on the Ladies African Tour.
“I have really been looking forward to these tournaments because I feel I can win at least one of them. I’ve been working very hard on my game and I gained a lot of experience playing in Australia.”

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 73

Players from South Africa unless stated.

(am) indicates amateur.
66 Stacy Bregman.
68 Kiran Matharu (Eng).
69 Lee-Anne Pace, Rebecca Hudson (Eng).

70 Julie Tvede (Den), Emelie Svenningsson (Swe), Jehanne Jail (Fra).

71 Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Natou Soro, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor),Morgana Robbertze .

72 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin), Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal), Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den), Cuyler Hedley (Can), Nora Angehrn (Swi), Mandy Adamson.

73 Sophie Walker (Eng), Ashleigh Simon (am), Felicity Johnson (Eng), Lisa Jean (Aus), Elin Brask (Swe), Maria Boden (Swe), Vanessa Bell (Eng) 73, Nicole Becker (am).

74 Bertine Strauss (am), Viva Schlasberg (Swe), Elin Ohlsson (Swe), Florence Luscher (Swi), Anne-Sophie Le Nalio (Fra), Martina Gillen (Ire), Kirsty Fisher (Eng), Anna Becker (Swe).

75 Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Lena Tornevall (Swe), Maria Ohlsson (Swe), Edita Nechanicka (Cze), Lizelle Muller (am), Laurette Maritz, Zuzana Kamasova (Slo), Sarah Heath (Eng), Michelle de Vries, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 75, Nuria Clau (Spa).

Other scores included:

76 Kelly Hutcherson (Eng), Sarah (Ire) (am).

77 Cheryl Smith (Eng).

78 Michelle Smith (Eng), Shelley McKevitt (Eng).

80 Claire Coughlan (Ire).