Danish amateur Marie Eline Madsen holds a two-shot lead going into the second round of the Smorum Ladies Open by EC Drive.
At her first LET Access Series (LETAS) event, the 19-year-old amateur fired an incredible 65, five-under-par, to take the lead.
The Dane came out strong rolling in a birdie on the first before dropping a bogey on the third.
Yet, two consecutive birdies on five and six and another on nine got her back on track.
It was then a steady back nine for Madsen who rolled in a further two birdies on holes 16 and 18 to take the lead.
Speaking about her round Madsen said: “I played very relaxed, there was no big highs and lows just steady golf. I had some good putts and was straight from the tee so that helped a lot.
Madsen recently competed at the European Ladies Amateur Championship in Sweden at the end of last week and it’s been a quick turnaround since then but she’s happy to be competing on home soil.
“I have my mum and my dad with me this week and my dad on the bag. It’s always fun to be with him, so that helped a lot, I think.
“I’ve never played this golf course, I’m from a different part of Demark so it’s a long way in the car but I really like the course.
Leading a professional tournament after the first round is out of Madsen’s comfort zone but she’s determined to not let nerves get the better of her and do business as usual.
“For tomorrow, I think I will go to the range and do all the stuff I have to do before the second round starts.
“Even though it was a good round, there are still things I have to work on, so it never stops.”
One shot behind Masden lies two fellow Danish amateurs, Olivia Gronborg from Smorum Golf Club and Victoria Kristensen.
Gronborg had an excellent start carding two birdies followed by a third on the fourth.
Three more birdies and two bogeys sat her one shot behind Masden going into day two.
Play today was suspended at around 11:30 due to thunder and lightning with play resuming at 13:00.
Speaking about her round Gronborg said: “Today I started well with two birdies, after the rain delays, we got a bit of water so it wasn’t as hard, and you could really go for the flags.”
Gronborg recently joined Smorum Golf Club and is relishing the chance to play on her home course and the advantages that come with that.
“It’s great playing at your home course, having people here to support you and knowing the course. It has helped today.”
The 20-year-old played the 2022 edition of the Smorum Ladies Open, coming 22nd and carding a strong final round of 69, one-under-par.
Now she’s excited to be near the top this year alongside two of her Danish friends.
“With three Danes at the top its obviously friendly competition.” Gronborg admitted. “We just played the European Championships together; they are two of my good friends.
“I hope tomorrow is going to be great again and maybe I’ll get the chance to play with them in the final round, that would be fun!”
Alongside Gronborg on four-under-par is Kristensen who impressed at her first professional golf tournament.
The 17-year-old had a steady start carding one bogey and one par on the front nine before firing up the flatstick to roll in four birdies on the back.
Explaining her round, Kristensen said: “My caddy and I did a great job out there. I was super excited to play this tournament because it’s my first time at a professional golf tournament.
“I was nervous today, tomorrow I want to be a little better with my pitches. I didn’t have so many short putts for birdie as I wanted. I do think I’m more comfortable now going into tomorrow.
“It’s great to get this opportunity at a professional tournament, I played with two professionals today, I can see parts of their game that are way better than me and that’s great to learn from.”
Germany’s Carolin Kauffmann lies in solo fourth as the highest ranking professional, whilst two Swedes Linn Wiberg and amateur Nathalie Borg sit in fifth.
Further down the leaderboard things are tight with twelve players tied for seventh on one-under-par.
Round two gets underway tomorrow at 7:40am local time tomorrow and there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties after.
Follow all the action on @letaccess on Twitter and TikTok and LET Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #SmorumLadiesOpen
