Amateur Canice Screene fired a two-under 70 to lie just one stroke off the lead after the opening 36 holes of the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Aicha Q-School in Morocco.
The reigning AIG Irish Women’s Close champion (23) shares third place on seven under par behind Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea and South African amateur Kaiyuree Moodley.
Screene made four birdies and two bogeys at Royal Golf Marrakech to sit comfortably inside the top 20 and ties who will be awarded Category 12 cards after five rounds.
“It’s just so different at this course,” Screene said. “I think visually is the biggest thing. I was trying to remind myself it’s not as tight as it looks, it just looks a lot worse. But actually, I pretty much hit most fairways, I just didn’t hole as many putts today. It’s tough, the courses are just so different, so adjusting is hard.
“I’m really happy. I’m hitting the ball nicely and when the putts go in, the scores have been low. I’m just going to try and keep doing the same thing and hopefully, more putts will roll in tomorrow.
“I was more nervous about coming here [to Royal] just because this was so different. Noria and Al Maaden are kind of similar, then coming here, it was so different. But I’m a lot less threatened now after playing it today because I think I realize it’s just all in your head. It looks so narrow, but it isn’t. I definitely feel a bit more relaxed in the next two rounds.”
Douglas’ Sara Byrne shot a one under 72 at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech to share 13th on five under while Annabel Wilson carded a bogey-free, six under 67 at Al Maaden to jump into a tie for 23rd on three under alongside Elm Park’s Anna Foster, who shot 71 at Royal Golf.
Olivia Mehaffey was 119th on six over after a 78 at Royal Golf with only the top 65 and ties making the 72-hole cut.
Players finishing from 21st to 50th will be awarded Category 16 cards with those outside the top 50 ranked in Category 19.
At the 90-hole Asian Tour Q-School in Thailand, Paul Dunne opened with a three-under 68 at Lake View Resort and Golf Club to share 27th in the race 35 cards (no ties).
Niall Kearney was joint 87th after a level par 71, two shots inside the top 140 who will make the 36-hole cut.
There will be a 72-hole cut to the top 70 and ties before the fifth and final round.