Lauren Walsh slammed her foot on the gas on the back nine to open with a two-under 70 in the Ladies European Tour’s season-ending €700,000 Andalucia Costa del Sol Open in Spain.
The Castlewarden talent and Carton House touring professional (24) made two bogeys and a birdie to turn in one-over-par at Real Guadalhorce in Malaga.
But displaying the firepower that’s propelled her to 19th in the Order of Merit in her rookie season, Walsh made four birdies and a bogey in her next six holes to race home in 33.
“A solid start to the week,” said Walsh, who joins Sara Byrne at LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying in Alabama next week.
“I played nicely on the back nine to get it back under par, which is always the goal. I’m looking forward to enjoying the last few days of the LET season.”
The Kildare star was tied for 20th, just five shots behind Finland’s Noora Komulainen, whose 65 gave her a one-shot lead over German duo Helen Briem and Patricia Isabel Schmidt, India’s Pranavi Urs and Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino.
On the Asian Tour, American Peter Uihlein celebrated Thanksgiving by firing an eight-under-par 64 to take the halfway lead in the US$2.5 million International Series Qatar.
He led by two shots on 12-under from countryman American Zach Bauchou, who carded 68, at Doha Golf Club.
Overnight leader Ian Snyman from South Africa was a shot further back after a 70 with South African Charl Schwartzel (65), Spain’s Luis Masaveu (69) and David Puig (70) and the Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena (68) four shots off the pace.