KYLIE WALKER MAKES GOOD START WITH A FIVE-UNDER 67

 NEWS RELEASE FROM LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

By BETHAN CUTLER

Cheyenne Woods put out a statement of intent just a week ahead of the Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Tiger’s niece shot an opening round of five-under-par 67 in the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters on the Buckinghamshire golf course. However, it wasn’t good enough for the lead.

Out in front was potential Solheim Cup star Caroline Masson at nine-under, a tournament record. She had to share that with South African Ashleigh Simon, who returned from a hip injury two months ago.

There are three places available for the top players who are not yet exempt for the Ricoh Women’s British Open via this week’s tournament.

Woods is looking to book her spot and said afterwards that she was delighted with her round and determined not to let in slip, like she had done the previous week after a first-round 64 in Madrid.

“I felt like I played really steady. One bogey, I felt like I hit the ball well so overall it was a good day,” said Woods, who celebrated her 23^rd birthday on Thursday.

“I definitely learned last week through experiencing it, so this week I feel really good. I’m just going to continue to play steady and not worry about today’s round. Tomorrow is a new day and I’ll just continue my strong play the rest of the week.”

Masson was also understandably delighted with her flawless round containing nine birdies, which would remind Solheim Cup Captain Liselotte Neumann of her talent just three weeks away from the biennial clash on 16-18 August at Colorado Golf Club.

“I played really well, really solid: hit 17 greens and made one really good save out of the bunker for par. It was solid golf, good putting and when it’s like that, golf is a lot of fun,” said the 24-year-old, from Gladbeck.

An early start in perfect conditions also proved the catalyst for Simon, who had 10 birdies and just one bogey on her card.

The 24-year-old from Johannesburg said: “I managed to birdie the last five holes to finish at nine-under, so I’m very pleased. Last week I finished fifth and played really well; I just made some silly mistakes. This week I knew if I kept hitting the ball like last week, there was a low one in me. I even had a drop today and that was a three-putt, so disappointing, but I stayed in the present and just kept going.”

England’s Charley Hull, 17, started well with an eagle on her first hole, the 10^th, and was part of a group at four-under alongside the world No.7, Karrie Webb. Hull and Webb played with Laura Davies, who opened with a level par 72.

Webb, a veteran seven-time major champion from Australia, was impressed with the teenage Hull.

She said: “What a fantastic talent. Quite a big pairing for her today and she eagled the first hole. I don’t know how many nerves were there but very impressive. We joked that out there, she is a member at Woburn and that’s where I won my first British Open and it was a year before she was born so that puts things in perspective. I think she’ll be around for a long time!”

The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters is live on Sky Sports in HD and on mobile and tablet devices via Sky Go.

SCOTSWATCH:  Kylie Walker, pictured, lying T6 after a 67, had her best start to an LET event for some time. Pamela Pretswell and Vikki Laing back her up with rounds of 68 and 70 respectively for a share of 11th and 27th places respectively. Only Carly Booth is in danger of missing the cut. She had a 77.
Kylie stood on the 16th tee needing three pars for a 65 but she dropped a shot at the 16th and another at the short 18th.
Earlier she had an eagle 3 at the long second and birdies at the first, long 10th, 11th, long 14th and 15th in halves of 33-34/
Pamela Pretswell also had an eagle 3 at the long second, backed up by birdies at the first, long 10th, 11th and 15th. She dropped shots at the fourth and 17th in halves of 34.
Vikki Laing was a third Scot to get an eagle but hers came at the ninth to see her out in 34 after a birdie at the long second and a bogey at the eighth.
The Musselburgh player dropped shots at the 11th and 16th but birdied the short 12th and long 14th in halves of  34-36.
 

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD

par 72
63 - Ashleigh Simon (RSA) , Caroline Masson (GER)

66 - Klara Spilkova (CZE) , Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) , Rebecca Artis (AUS)

67 - Diana Luna (ITA) , Kylie Walker (SCO) , Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Cheyenne Woods (USA) , Bree Arthur (AUS)

68 - Line Vedel (DEN) , Karrie Webb (AUS) , Charley Hull (ENG) , Christina Kim (USA) , Pamela Pretswell (SCO) , Gwladys Nocera (FRA) , Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) , Noora Tamminen (FIN) , Sandra Gal (GER)
69 - Danielle Montgomery (ENG) , Henni Zuel (ENG) , Daniela Holmqvist (SWE) , Megan Grehan (USA), Alison Whitaker (AUS) , Lorie Kane (CAN) , Valentine Derrey (FRA)

70 - Camilla Lennarth (SWE) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Charlotte Ellis (ENG) , Amelia Lewis (USA) , Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) , Whitney Hillier (AUS) , Becky Morgan (WAL) , Linda Wessberg (SWE) , Trish Johnson (ENG) , Joanna Klatten (FRA) , Margherita Rigon (ITA) , Vikki Laing (SCO) , Holly Aitchison (ENG)

71 - Sarah Kemp (AUS) , Carin Koch (SWE) , Laurette Maritz (RSA) , Veronica Zorzi (ITA) , Sophie Gustafson (SWE) , Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) , Rebecca Hudson (ENG) , Jade Schaeffer (FRA) , Nontaya Srisawang (THA) , Nikki Garrett (AUS) , Cindy Lacrosse (USA) , Caroline Afonso (FRA) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Jessica Karlsson (SWE) , Malene Jorgensen (DEN) , Florentyna Parker (ENG)

72 - Marjet Van Der Graaff (NED) , Karen Lunn (AUS) , Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) , Liz Young (ENG) , Emily Taylor (ENG) , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) , Georgina Simpson (ENG) , Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) , Charlotte Wild (ENG) , Cathryn Bristow (NZL) , Tara Davies (WAL) , Kristie Smith (AUS) , Tania Elosegui (ESP) , Laura Davies (ENG) , Isabella Ramsay (SWE) , Julie Greciet (FRA) , Holly Clyburn (ENG)

73 - Marta Silva Zamora (ESP) , Miriam Nagl (GER) , Paula Hurtado (COL) , Connie Chen (RSA) , Tandi Cuningham (RSA) , Hannah Burke (ENG) , Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA) , Sophie Sandolo (ITA) , Beth Allen (USA) , Mallory Fraiche (USA) , Katie Burnett (USA) , Nina Holleder (GER) , Dawn Shockley (USA) , Alexandra Vilatte (FRA) , Sahra Hassan (WAL) , Melanie Maetzler (SUI) , Eleanor Givens (ENG) , Maria Hernandez (ESP)

74 - Louise Larsson (SWE) , Sarah King (AUS) , Xi Yu Lin (CHN) , Maria Salinas (PER) , Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) , Margarita Ramos (MEX) , Maha Haddioui (MAR) , Melissa Reid (ENG) , Stefania Croce (ITA)

75 - Nikki Campbell (AUS) , Julia Davidsson (SWE) , Jia Yun Li (CHN) , Rebecca Codd (IRL) , Felicity Johnson (ENG) , Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) , Helen Alfredsson (SWE) , Minea Blomqvist (FIN)

76 - Anais Maggetti (SUI) , Celine Herbin (FRA) , Stephanie Na (AUS) , Lee-Anne Pace (RSA) , Elisabeth Esterl (GER)

77 - Lucie Andre (FRA) , Benedikte Grotvedt (NOR) , Carly Booth (SCO) , Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Lydia Hall (WAL)

78 - Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) , Lucy Williams (ENG) , Rachel Drummond (ENG)

79 - Virginie Lagoutte (FRA) , Laura Jansone (LVA) , Stacey Keating (AUS) , Kiran Matharu (ENG)

81 - Virginia Espejo (ESP) , Cecilie Lundgreen (NOR)