Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby and Thailand’s Trichat Cheenglab share the lead on six-under-par at the end of the first day of action at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho.
Elm Park’s Anna Foster is four shots off the pace in a share of 15th place. Foster, who has enjoyed a very solid rookie campaign on the Ladies European Tour birdied three of her first three holes to move to within touching distance of the early lead.
A tough middle part of the round saw her bogey the ninth and fourteenth holes but she recovered with a birdie at the 15th.
Lauren Walsh is outside the top-20 after a one-under 71 as she looks to hold off Anna Huang of Canada, Wales’ Darcey Harry and Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall and secure a top-10 order of merit place and a LPGA Q-Series spot.
Arwefjall is in a share of fifth place on four-under with Harry a shot further back.
Sara Byrne is level-par after a 72.
The season-ending event on the LET saw Soenderby and Cheenglab both bogey-free at Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf.
It was a good start for Soenderby, who began on the 10th tee, as she rolled in back-to-back birdies on her first two holes before adding another on 15.
The LET winner kept the momentum going throughout her round with further birdies on the fourth, seventh and ninth holes to seal a round of 66 (-6).
“It was very nice,” said Soenderby. “I made a deal with my boyfriend [who is a caddie] this morning, he told me let’s shoot around the same score.
“I said I was going to shoot six-under and I had the birdie putt on the last to get to six-under, so I knew I had to hole it. I didn’t even think about the fact it was bogey-free. The putts were just dropping today.
“I feel I’m in a pretty solid place right now and I have been the whole year. I have got a really good team around me and have settled in the right place. I made a plan with my mental coach this year that the word of the year is to be strong in all parts of my game and my life. I have been focusing a lot on diet and strength this year, so it’s paid off in the end.”
2023 LET Order of Merit winner Cheenglab also produced a flawless round on day one in sunny Spain.
The Thai star started on the 10th tee and rolled in six birdies across her round on the third, fourth, 11th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes to also be tied at the top of the leaderboard.
“My goal for this week was to be five-under each day, so I got a one-point bonus today,” said Cheenglab. “The course isn’t that long, so I practiced on my 58 wedge a lot yesterday. I stood chipping for one hour, but it was worth it. The birdies that I made I chipped from 55 yards three times.
“It brings me a lot of confidence after China. I was twice second in the team competition when I was a captain, but I was on the winning team with Mimi [Rhodes], Kristyna [Napoleaova] and Kultida [Pramphun]. It bring me a lot of confidence heading into this week.
“I have struggled with my new swing since maybe May when I changed it. Now it seems like it’s getting better and better. It’s a shame as it’s the last event this year! I will keep practicing and prepare for next year.”
France’s Celine Herbin and Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes are in a share of third place after they both fired rounds of 67 (-5) on day one.
Two-time LET winner Herbin made an eagle on the fourth along with birdies on holes 11, 12 and 16 to be one shot behind the leaders.
“It was a lovely day, not too much wind compared to the practice days. I feel good. I didn’t have my A-game, but the score looks good so I’m happy that happened,” said Herbin.
“I saved a few situations, so I didn’t have a bogey on the card. It was nice to have a bogey-free round, and I will go straight to the round just to work on a few things.
“I’m happy with the score and the eagle on hole number four was a big plus. I hit a pretty good drive, I was on the edge of the fairway on the right-hand side but it’s a good spot to be. I had a 6-iron that I hit quite well, it pitched 10 metres short and I had seven feet for the eagle putt.”
Spain’s Sobron Galmes had a bogey-free day rolling in birdies on the third, fourth, seventh, ninth and 12th holes to also be T3.
“I played really good, I felt really good with the putter,” said Sobron. “I was working with my dad and my boyfriend on my putting and I’m very comfortable putting.
“I think it’s the key for my game to do the lowest score because my long game now is perfect. I have a lot of confidence in it, so I just need a few putts to go in and everything is okay.”
Five players are one shot further back with Switzerland’s Kim Metraux, Germany’s Leonie Harm, Spain’s Marta Martin and Swedish duo Lisa Pettersson and Kajsa Arwefjäll all on four-under.
Welsh duo Lydia Hall and Darcey Harry, Morocco’s Maha Haddioui and India’s Aditi Ashok round out the top 10 on three-under.
In the battle at the top of the LET Order of Merit, Singapore’s Shannon Tan and England’s Mimi Rhodes are both tied in 27th place on the leaderboard.
Scoring HERE
