Turner and Thomson in the mix at Hamburg

NEWS RELEASE FROM LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
By BETHAN CUTLER, LET Media Manager
Finland’s Krista Bakker shot an opening round of 67, five under par, to lead the CreditGate24 GolfSeries Hamburg Open at Treudelberg Golf and Country Club, by one from France’s Emilie Piquot.

Bakker covered the opening nine holes in one under par in tough windy conditions. The Finn completed a flawless back nine with birdies on the 11^th, 13^th, 15^th and 18^th holes to be home in 32 shots. The 21-year-old will be hoping to improve on her season best on the LET Access Series, a 13^th place finish at the recent CitizenGuard LETAS Trophy in Belgium.

“I had a lot of birdie chances today, I putted very solid so I hit it close to the pin. I holed two long putts, one from ten metres on the 15^th. It was tough with the wind but I hit my driver quite far on a few holes so it was easier, but yes it was tough. I’m excited, hoping the weather will be good tomorrow and looking forward to it,” she said.

Piquot comes into this week’s event in good form after recording her first top ten with a 6^th place finish in Belgium. 
The 24-year-old French player was tied for the lead with Bakker until she found the water right of the green on the final hole, resulting in a dropped shot and an opening round of four under par. The French player hails from Normandy in the north of France and felt quite comfortable in the tricky conditions.

“I made a good eagle on the 18^th hole, so my 9^th. I saved a lot of pars too so it was a good day. This weather is a bit like mine so it’s not difficult,” said Piquot.

Four players, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Edinburgh's Jane Turner (pictured), Leena Makkonen from Finland and Austrian Nina Muehl are all tied at 1 under par. The current LETAS Order of Merit leader, Germany's Isi Gabsa sits in a group of eight players tied for 7^th place at even par.

FIRST ROUND SCORES 
par 72  

Krista BAKKER    67

Emilie PIQUOT   68

Leena MAKKONEN  71

Nina MUEHL       71

Jane TURNER     71

Olivia COWAN   71

Nobuhle DLAMINI  72 

 Michele THOMSON  72

 Linda HENRIKSSON  72

Csilla LAJTAI-ROZSA 72

Josephine JANSON  72

Isi GABSA 72

Rachel RAASTAD 72

Joana DE SA PEREIRA 72

Rebecca McGINLEY 73

Alexandra LENNARTSON 73

Christine WOLF 73

Cecilie LUNDGREEN 73

Stacey TATE 73

Lucie HINNEROVA 73

Laurette MARITZ  73

Jessica LJUNGBERG  73

Manon DE ROEY 73

Johanna BJORK 73

Tara DELANEY 73

Fabienne IN-ALBON 73

Laura SANCHEZ ZULUAGA 73

Other scores included:

Kiran MATHARU  (T37) 75

 Rachael GOODALL (T46)  76             

 Jessica RIGBY (T56) 77

Sarah ATTWOOD (T67)  78              

Rebecca GREEN (T84)   80

Nicola BENNETT (T84)  80 
Gemma WEBSTER  (T84)     81

Lauren BLEASE    (T101)  82

Kym LARRATT  (T106) 83

Lauren MACKINTOSH (Am) (T115) 87