LACOSTE FRENCH OPEN FIRST-ROUND REPORT AND SCORES

MARIA HERNANDEZ SETS PACE WITH 65

    Maria Hernandez in full flow today. Picture by Tristan Jones (LET).

REPORT FROM LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

By BETHAN CUTLER, L E T Media Manager

Maria Hernández from Spain fired a first round of five-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.

The 28-year-old from Pamplona made a bogey, four birdies and an eagle in near-perfect weather conditions at Golf de Chantaco in St Jean de Luz, south western France, to edge ahead of three other players.

They included Carlota Ciganda, also from Pamplona, England’s Florentyna Parker and Maha Haddioui from Morocco, who dropped a shot on the last hole.

Hernández, the 2010 Slovak Open champion, was pleased to be back in the hunt, having completely changed her swing over the last two years due to a herniated disk in her neck.

Fellow Pamplona star Ciganda had two bogeys, four birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole, where she used her 5-iron to hit the ball within a metre of the hole from 170 metres. 

She said: “I didn’t start really well with a bogey on number five but then I made two birdies and an eagle. That kept me going and then the back nine I made an early birdie on 11 but then I bogeyed the next one. I was putting for birdies on the last few holes and I ended up with a birdie on the last hole, where I chipped in.”

Parker felt surprised to be in the mix as she only had one practice round, in the pre-tournament Pro-Am on Wednesday, due to the late delivery of her golf clubs by an airline.

 She said: “I had a great start with birdies from four to seven and then I played not great, from there. I struggled a bit but saved it with a birdie on 17 where I holed a long putt.”

  ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES

  par 70

65 Maria Hernandez (ESP)

66 Maha Haddioui (MAR) , Florentyna Parker (ENG) , Carlota Ciganda (ESP)

67 Nikki Campbell (AUS) , Sophie Sandolo (ITA) , Azahara Munoz (ESP) , Anais Maggetti (SUI) , Isabelle Boineau (FRA)

68 Felicity Johnson (ENG) , Hannah Burke (ENG) , Klara Spilkova (CZE) , Marta Silva Zamora (ESP) , Charley Hull (ENG) , Noora Tamminen (FIN)

69 Amy Boulden (WAL) , Krista Bakker (FIN) , Minea Blomqvist (FIN) , Christine Wolf (AUT) , Cathryn Bristow (NZL) , Liz Young (ENG) , Bree Arthur (AUS) , Albane Valenzuela (SWI)

70 Eleanor Givens (ENG) , Lucie Andre (FRA) , Gwladys Nocera (FRA) , Chloe Leurquin (BEL) , Viva Schlasberg (SWE) , Georgina Simpson (ENG), Louise Larsson (SWE) , Marion Veysseyre (FRA) , Alexandra Vilatte (FRA), Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) , Malene Jorgensen (DEN) , Jade Schaeffer (FRA) , Holly Aitchison (ENG)

71 - Sahra Hassan (WAL) , Ariane Provot (FRA) , Isabell Gabsa (GER) , Mireia Prat (ESP) , Diana Luna (ITA) , Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Karolin Lampert (GER)

72 Fabienne In-albon (SUI) , Maria Salinas (PER) , Nikki Garrett (AUS) , Lucy Williams (ENG) , Mallory Fraiche (USA) , Caroline Afonso (FRA)

73 Margherita Rigon (ITA) , Stefania Croce (ITA) , Rebecca Hudson (ENG), Beth Allen (USA) , Lydia Hall (WAL) , Sophie Gustafson (SWE), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA), Sophie Walker (ENG) , Caroline Martens (NOR) , Melodie Bourdy (FRA) , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) , Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) , Tania Elosegui (ESP)

74 Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Julie Greciet (FRA) , Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) , Eva Gilly (FRA) , Carly Booth (SCO) , Sally Watson (SCO)

75 Whitney Hillier (AUS) , Julia Davidsson (SWE) , Steffi Kirchmayr (GER)

76 Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) , Astrid Vayson De Pradenne (FRA) , Pamela Pretswell (SCO)

78 Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ)

79 Josephine Janson (SWE)

82 Virginia Espejo (ESP)