On a low scoring first day at Golf de Lavaux, Annabel Wilson fired a four-under 68 to end the day tied for eighth at the LET Access Series’ Lavaux Ladies Open.
The Castlerock woman is still in the early stages of her pro career, and she made two birdies on each half to round out a bogey-free day and sit just three shots off the lead, set by Slovakia’s Katarina Drocarova, who fired a phenomenal round of 65.
Starting on hole 10, the 23-year-old came out fierce carding six birdies in her first seven holes before dropping a shot on the 18th.
At the turn, Drocarova slowed down with three pars and one bogey before firing up again with three consecutive birdies on holes five, six and seven and finishing with two pars.
“I had a lot of fun out there so I can’t complain. This is my first time in Switzerland, and I love it, it’s great. I love the Alps; the Lake Geneva and I just want to stay here honestly.
Drocarova, who turned professional this year, secured a top 10 finish at her home tournament, the Ladies Slovak Golf Open which gave her an invite to the first English event, where she finished 19th.
“I have no status on LETAS really so I’m so excited to come here and play. Tomorrow I just want to play as good as I can. I’m going to keep it as simple as I can.
“The strategy is going to be the same, just hit it into the centre of the fairways and go for the pins.
“This could be my last event, so I just want to go for it.”
Sweden’s Andrea Lignell carded five birdies, one bogey and one spectacular hole out eagle on the 18th to finish the first day in tied second.
“It was a surprising finish. It was great to end that way. I feel like I’ve been struggling off the tee this past few weeks but this week it has been solid.
“I just hit a lot of greens which gave me a lot of opportunities.
“I really love this place. It is very hilly in some places.”
Lignell has had a strong rookie season on LETAS and has finished runner-up twice.
The 24-year-old currently sits 10th on the LETAS Order of Merit, just out of the spots for an LET card.
“Tomorrow I just want to keep the same mentality. I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself the last few weeks, so this week was about acceptance and patience.
“For the next two weeks I just want to put myself in a good mental spot as possible. These last few weeks have been tough for me so I’m trying to see what I can do and make the most.”
Five players finished on five-under-par: The Netherland’s Marit Harryvan, Nikki Hofstede, Switzerland’s Elena Colombo, Norway’s Tina Mazarino and England’s Megan Dennis.
Round two begins at 8:00 local time. At the end of the day there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties.