Pamela Pretswell (70) leading Scot in Morocco
 
NEWS RELEASE FROM LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
By BETHAN CULTER, LET media manager
Ladies European Tour rookie Tonje Daffinrud of Norway and 12th season veteran Ursula Wikstrom of Finland share the first-round lead at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco after recording a pair of four under par 67s in fair conditions at Golf de l’Ocean in Agadir on the Atlantic coastline.
Pamela Pretswell, tied for 20th place,  is the leading Scot after returning a one-under-par 70. Kelsey Macdonald comes next with a 71 for a share of 32nd place but then there is a gap of three shots to the next Scot - Sally Watson on 74.
Alford's Laura Murray had a five-over 76 on her LET debut but she did outscore one of her partners and compatriots, Kylie Walker who had a 77.
Daffinrud, playing in her third Ladies European Tour event, set the early target after rattling off four birdies including a two metre effort on the par four ninth, her last hole.
“It was a pretty good start to the week. I felt really good so I was able to attack some pins and I’m happy,” said the 23-year-old from Tønsberg, who felt that playing in eight events on the LET Access Series last year, with one win at the Azores Open, was the perfect preparation.
“It helped me a lot. I came straight from college so I didn’t know what professional life would be like so for me that was the only way to get into it. I learned a lot from it: just the routine of travelling every week and you become friends with all the players.
“It’s early. I’m not going to put too much into it. I feel great today and I’ll go out and do the same tomorrow. I had a good start to the season and this is where I want to be. I’m here to win,” she added.
The University of Denver graduate was joined by Wikstrom later in the day. The 34-year-old from Espoo posted five birdies and one bogey, carrying strong form across from the World Ladies Championship in China, where she finished fifth a fortnight ago.
Wikstrom said: “It was an easy day and I sneaked in the score. I didn’t feel I was playing that well, but only five birdies, one bogey and not too many mistakes.  I used all the chances that I had.
“I made one bogey on number one, my 10th, where I hit it on the left and had to take a drop.
 “After yesterday it was pretty easy, because there was not that much wind but the greens are much faster than at the beginning of the week and also the fairways, so you get more run on the ball, but we’ve played here so many years that I know the course quite well.”
The pair hold a one stroke lead over 10 other players, including five Frenchwomen: Gwladys Nocera, Jade Schaeffer, Anne-Lise Caudal, Celine Herbin and 16-year-old amateur Matthilda Cappeliez, who finished 25th in the tournament last year.
“I remember last year. It was good and bad memories, but it was an experience, so just keep going and forget the bad ones,” said Cappeliez.  “I made a few birdies on the front and on the back also, so it was nice. Unfortunately I was unlucky on the eighth and I put my drive into a tree.”
Nocera, who was beaten to the title by Charley Hull in a play-off at the same golf course last year, was happy with her first round and said: “It’s always good to start the tournament like this. I hit 16 greens and didn’t miss many fairways, so everything went well.”
Also on three under are four Englishwomen: Trish Johnson, Ellie Givens, Felicity Johnson and Florentyna Parker and Dane Nicole Broch Larsen.
Defending champion Hull had a tough day with four bogeys and a double on the eighth against three birdies in a three over par 74.
“I didn’t hit it very well… I mean, I hit it alright, but just didn’t score,” said Hull, on her way to the practice putting green.
ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71
67 - Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) , Tonje Daffinrud (NOR)
68 Florentyna Parker (ENG) , Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) , Trish Johnson (ENG) , Jade Schaeffer (FRA) , Gwladys Nocera (FRA) , Mathilda Cappeliez (FRA) , Celine Herbin (FRA) , Felicity Johnson (ENG) , Eleanor Givens (ENG) , Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN)
69 Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DNK) , Melissa Reid (ENG) , Linda Henriksson (FIN) , Nicole Garcia (RSA) , Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) , Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP) , Charlotte Ellis (ENG)
70 Rebecca Hudson (ENG) , Minea Blomqvist (FIN) , Rebecca Artis (AUS) , Pamela Pretswell (SCO) , Emma Westin (SWE) , Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) , Beth Allen (USA) , Rebecca Sorensen (SWE) , Louise Friberg (SWE) , Klara Spilkova (CZE) , Valentine Derrey (FRA)
71 Georgina Simpson (ENG) , Melanie Maetzler (SWI) , Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) , Anjelika Hammar (SWE) , Lina Boqvist (SWE) , Csilla Lajtai-rozsa (HUN) , Kelsey Macdonald (SCO) , Emma Goddard (ENG) , Amy Boulden (WAL) , Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) , Paula Hurtado (COL) , Stacey Keating (AUS) , Stephanie Na (AUS) , Mireia Prat (ESP) , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) , Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA) , Maria Beautell (ESP) , Krista Bakker (FIN) , Emily Kristine Pedersen (DNK)
72 Chloe Leurquin (BEL) , Isabelle Boineau (FRA) , Sophie Sandolo (ITA) , Margherita Rigon (ITA) , Amber Ratcliffe (ENG) , Malene Jorgensen (DEN) , Holly Aitchison (ENG) , Marta Sanz (ESP)
73 Lucie Andre (FRA) , Lucy Williams (ENG) , Liz Young (ENG) , Nina Muehl (AUT) , Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) , Lynn Carlsson (SWE) , Camilla Lennarth (SWE) , Lauren Taylor (ENG) , Bree Arthur (AUS) , Anne Van Dam (NLD) , Becky Brewerton (WAL) , Connie Chen (RSA) , Laura Cabanillas (ESP) , Luna Sobron (ESP) , Maha Haddioui (MAR) , Daisy Nielsen (DEN) , Georgia Hall (ENG) , Anais Maggetti (SWI)
74 Holly Clyburn (ENG) , Virginia Espejo (ESP) , Charley Hull (ENG) , Alexandra Vilatte (FRA) , Sally Watson (SCO) , Caroline Rominger (SWI) , Noora Tamminen (FIN) , Anna Christina Kindgren (COL) , Stefania Croce (ITA) , Steffi Kirchmayr (GER)
75 Sophie Gustafson (SWE) , Marika Voss (FIN) , Victoria Lovelady (BRA) , Melodie Bourdy (FRA) , Whitney Hillier (AUS) , Sahra Hassan (WAL) , Carly Booth (SCO) , Monique Smit (RSA) , Sophie Walker (ENG) , Marion Ricordeau (FRA) , Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) , Vikki Laing (SCO) , Carmen Alonso (ESP) , Fabienne In-albon (SWI) , Josephine Janson (SWE) , Michele Thomson (SCO) , Linda Wessberg (SWE) , Hannah Ralph (ENG)
76 Heather MacRae (SCO) , Christine Wolf (AUT) , Caroline Martens (NOR) , Kim Williams (RSA) , Karolin Lampert (GER) , Marta Silva Zamora (ESP) , Alex Peters (ENG) , Laura Murray (SCO) , Laura Jansone (LVA)
77 Natalie Wille (SWE) , Leigh Whittaker (GER) , Kylie Walker (SCO) , Lien Willems (BEL)
78 - Rebecca Codd (IRL) , Caroline Afonso (FRA) , Hannah Burke (ENG) , Elisa Serramia (ESP) , Marie Fourquier (FRA) , Isabella Ramsay (SWE)
79 Lucie Hinnerova (CZE) , Louise Larsson (SWE) , Vani Kapoor (IND)