Lotta good golf puts Wahlin a shot ahead in Portugal

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sweden’s Lotta Wahlin grabbed the first round lead at the Portugal Ladies Open with a four-under 68 at Golden Eagle Residence and Golf in Rio Maior.
The two-time LET winner carded six birdies and two bogeys on a hot day north of Lisbon.
Becky Brewerton, Iben Tinning, Caroline Afonso and Carmen Alonso were equal second on three-under 69.
Welsh Solheim Cup star Brewerton birdied four of her first nine holes, with another birdie on the 13th. However she bogeyed her final two holes of the day.
She was joined by fellow Solheim Cup player Tinning of Denmark, who carded six birdies and three bogeys.
France’s Afonso and Alonso from Spain played earlier in the day, but their scores held up over the afternoon as the rest of the 108 player field completed their rounds.
Brewerton, the 2007 Ladies English Open champion, said that her game suited Golden Eagle.
“It played exceptionally long today because of the wind so I thought I had a bit of an advantage there. I was hitting it a long way off the tee which was making it a lot easier. I was very happy. I said after the practise round it suits me down to the ground,” she said.
Denmark’s Iben Tinning
“It’s all carry and the bunkers are at the front of most of the greens so you can’t run it in: you have to carry it onto the green all the way to the pin. A couple of the par fives I could get on in two; which I didn’t think I would be able to. I even hit a driver off the fairway on one hole so it worked out well.”
There are just six tournaments left in which players can qualify for a place on Europe’s Solheim Cup team, set to face the Americans at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois from August 21-23. Brewerton is keen to represent Europe on the team for the second time, while Tinning is equally keen to make her fifth appearance at the event.
“The Solheim Cup is always on my mind,” said Tinning, the 2005 LET money list winner, who has played in the last four Solheim Cups. “It is hard to get in the team but I will try.”
Afonso, a second season tour pro, is leading for the first time since her debut event on the LET at the Spanish Open last year. Her score included six birdies and three bogeys.
Caroline Afonso from France
The Portuguese have adopted her as one of their own this week because she is half Portuguese. Although born in Quimper, France, her father Antonio is from Portugal.
“I am proud to be French and Portuguese because of my origins,” said Afonso, who even speaks a little Portuguese. “My start today was not particularly good but after I recovered my form I was very happy. It was good putting, driving and chipping.”
Alonso, playing in her fifth season on tour, fired three straight birdies from the fifth with another at the 10th but dropped a shot at the 11th.
“The secret was putting the ball in play,” said the long hitter. “This golf course is in really good shape and if you put it in play you have many chances to make birdie.
“I hit 12 fairways today and it’s good. Now I think I hit it like, 300 yards on average, or maybe a little more. I practised a lot this winter in the gym and I think my ball is going a little but further than last year, like 10 or 15 yards. With the driver it’s like one club. It’s a lot. I’m happy with my game and I keep working hard.”
Four players share sixth place on 70 after the opening round. They are current European No.1 Marianne Skarpnord from Norway, Austrian Nicole Gergely, Beth Allen from the United States and the defending champion, Anne-Lise Caudal from France.
Caudal said: “I’m happy. I played well today and was very relaxed. I think I’m going to keep it going over the weekend.”
Eight played tied for tenth position on 71 including Germany’s Martina Eberl and the two time event champion Cecilia Ekelundh from Sweden, who won in Portugal in 2004 and 2005.

FIRST ROUND LEADERS
Par 70
68 Lotta Wahlin (Sweden).
69 Caroline Afonso (France), Carmen Alonso (Spain), Becky Brewerton (Wales), Iben Tinning (Denmark).
70 Marianne Skarpnord (Norway), Anne-Lise Caudal (France), Nicole Gergely (Austria), Beth Allan (US).
Scottish scores:
71 Vikki Laing 37-34, Pamela Feggans 36-35.
74 Lynn Kenny 38-36.
75 Krystle Caithness 38-37.
76 Clare Queen 36-40.