Broch Larsen leads Handa NZ Women's Open
LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE
By Bethan Cutler, LET Media Manager
Christchurch, New Zealand – Talented Dane Nicole Broch Larsen shot a six-under-par round of 66
to take a one-shot lead into tomorrow’s second round of the ISPS Handa
New Zealand Women’s Open at Clearwater GC in Christchurch.
The
22-year-old (pictured) from Hillerød in Denmark, the second highest ranked
player in the Rolex Rankings competing this week, started at
the 10th hole and was quickly into her stride making birdie at the par
five.
She made further birdies at the 12th and 13th holes and another
was to follow at the par-4 15th hole, to be four-under-par after just
six holes.
She made light of the tough stretch
of holes from the 16th to the 18th making comfortable pars at each of
them to make the turn in 32.
The unassuming Dane was quickly at
six-under-par after birdies on the second and third, before her only
mistake of the round came at the par-5 fifth hole, where
she made a disappointing bogey six. She bounced back with a birdie at
the seventh before closing with two pars for a six-under 66.
Broch
Larsen, in her third season on the Ladies European Tour, was obviously
delighted with her round.
She said: “For my first round of
2016 I am really happy to shoot a 66. I played really solid today, got
off to a good start and just hit a bad tee shot on the fifth hole which
was my 14th hole and was lucky to only drop one shot to be honest.”
Broch
Larsen, who broke through for her first LET win at the Helsingborg Open
last year, was happy her recent hard work had paid dividends.
“I was not happy with the way my 2015 season ended, as I struggled with
my swing a little bit, but have worked really hard in my off season and
it felt really solid today.
"Playing in the morning without any wind was
really nice. The wind can really affect
the scores a lot on this course and I am sure it will be windy this
afternoon and we will have it tomorrow."
Asked
whether the large crowds this week would be a help or a hindrance
should she be in contention on Sunday, Broch Larsen seemed confident:
“I have been in contention quite a bit the past couple of years and
since I broke through for my first win I feel much more comfortable with
the crowds and playing in the leading groups.”
Broch
Larsen will take a one shot lead into tomorrow’s second round over the
talented young French rookie Justine Dreher, who was impressive
in her professional debut last week at the Oates Victorian Open,
finishing in fifth place.
Just a further shot back is French star
Gwladys Nocera, herself a former winner of this championship here at
Clearwater in 2012 and Scotland's Pamela Pretswell, who both
shot four-under-par rounds of 68.
World
number one and overwhelming tournament favourite Lydia Ko was the first
to admit that she hadn’t brought her ‘A’ game with her to
Clearwater today, but such is the quality of the 18-year-old she was
able to grind it out and shoot another sub 70 round at a course where
she had a course record 61 last year.
She birdied her final hole of the
day to shoot a three-under-par 69, the same score
shot by her compatriot Cathryn Bristow.
After round two there will be a cut to 50 professionals plus ties and
amateurs falling within the cut line. The third and final round will be
played on Sunday.
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Labels: Pro Ladies
