GERMANY CALLING: CAROLINE MASSON LEADS IN SOUTH AFRICA

 
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

PENNINGTON, KwaZulu-Natal: Germany’s Caroline Masson (pictured) moved a step closer to her maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour when she opened with a three-under-par 69 to lead the first round of the South African Women’s Open by two strokes today.

Masson justified her status as the top-ranked player in the field and dropped only one shot on a tough day at Selborne Park Golf Club.

BREGMAN HOME LEADER

Stacy Bregman is the leading South African following a 71 that places her in a group alongside France’s Joanna Klatten and Julie Greciet, and Anais Maggetti of Switzerland.

And double SA Open champion Ashleigh Simon battled her way to a round of level-par 72 after spending the entire night out of bed with a stomach bug.

But Masson looked completely at home in the cold weather and often breezy conditions.

“It wasn’t easy, but my local caddie helped a lot with the wind direction. I hit greens and I could’ve made more putts, but I’m very happy with this opening round.”

Masson was three under through 14 holes before the more difficult back nine claimed the only bogey in her round on the par-four 15^th.

“The back nine is tough. You have to hit some good long irons in, and can’t make too many mistakes. If you miss the fairways here the balls are gone. You have to really focus on every shot, and there’s no hole where you can really relax.”

Lee-Anne Pace is the top-ranked South African in the field, but her opening three-over 75 meant that 

Bregman now shoulders the South African challenge. 

RISING TO CHALLENGE

And she rose to the challenge with a round where she nearly holed out three times, including a sublime seven-iron to within inches on the par-four 16^th for a birdie.

“I played really solid and had my chances, but I’ll take this. I hit a lot of great shots out there, which I’m really happy about. This is definitely a thinker’s golf course.”

At six shots behind, Pace certainly feels she’s not out of the tournament.

“I was a bit nervous in the beginning playing back home again for the first time in so many years. But towards the end of the round I was more relaxed and was playing a bit better. I’m definitely not out of it. On a course like this anything can still happen. So I just need a good round on Saturday and then I can start the chase on Sunday.”

Welsh star Becky Brewerton and England’s Felicity Johnson remain a threat at only three off the lead.

 FIRST-ROUND SCORES

 Par 72

69 Caroline Masson (Ger)

71 Anais Maggetti (CHE) , Joanna Klatten (FRA) , Julie Greciet (FRA) , Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf)

72 Ashleigh Simon (SAf) , Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Felicity Johnson (ENG)

73 Morgana Robbertze (SAf) , Connie Chen (SAf) , Nontaya Srisawang (THA)

74 Danielle Montgomery (ENG) , Rebecca Hudson (ENG) , Florentyna Parker (ENG) , Bonita Bredenhann (SAf), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA), Lindsey Wright (AUS), Gwladys Nocera (FRA), Maria Beautell (ESP), Elena Giraud (FRA)

75 Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) , Louise Larsson (SWE) , Sharmila Nicollet (IND) , Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) , Iliska Verwey (SAf) , Tandi Cuningham (SAf)

76 Kylie Walker (SCO) , Suzette Venter (SAf) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Eleanor Givens (ENG) , Mireia Prat (ESP) , Alison Whitaker (AUS) , Rebecca Artis (AUS) , Elin Emanuelsson (SWE) , Laurette Maritz (SAf), Sophie Sandolo (ITA)

77 Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Steffi Kirchmayr (Ger) , Amelia Lewis (USA) , Alana Van Greuning (SAf) , Bree Arthur (AUS) , Lucie Andre (FRA) , Stacey Keating (AUS) , Kim Williams (SAf) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Bianca Theron (SAf)

78 Michaela Fletcher (SAf) , Monique Smit (SAf) , Nicole Garcia (SAf) , Mary Mattson (US) , Rebecca Codd (IRE) , Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) , Bertine Strauss (SAf), Melissa Eaton-Jackson (SAf) , Stefania Croce (ITA)

79 Sahra Hassan (WAL)

80 Lara Weinstein (SAf) , Izel Pieters (SAf) , Anna Scott (ENG) , Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) , Caroline Rominger (CHE) , Michelle De Vries (SAf) , Erika Holmen (SWE) , Caroline Martens (NOR) , Smriti Mehra (IND) , Nora Angehrn (CHE)

81 Mandy Adamson (SAf) , Betty Mokoena (SAf), Magda Kruger (SAf)

82 Patricia Beliard (FRA) , Kim Brookes (SAf) , Nicole Becker (SAf) , Jenni Kuosa (FIN) , Nicola Eaton (SAf)

83 Anna Becker-Frankel (SAf) , Kym Larratt (ENG) , Henriette Frylinck (SAf) , Caryn Louw (SAf)

84 Olivia Le Roux (SAf) , Lindsay Brown (SAf)

85 Ashley Knoll (US) , Piyathida Ployumsri (THA)

86 Lucy Williams (ENG) , Monja Richards (SAf)