French amateur Sara Brentcheneff stole the show on the first round of the Terre Blanche Ladies Open with a round of five-under-par.
The 16-year-old got off to a hot start with a birdie on the first hole before following it up with another on hole four.
On the back nine, Brentcheneff birdied hole 10 before dropping a shot on the next. Yet the Frenchwoman didn’t let it faze her as she birdied the next hole before producing a stunning eagle on the 18th to take her into a two-shot lead.
Speaking about the round, Brentcheneff said: “It was a great round and I’m feeling good. My long game was very good, and my putting was good which I’m so happy about.”
Brentcheneff had strong form at last year’s edition of the tournament where after rounds of 76 and 72 she placed ninth.
“I don’t think about last year out here today, it’s just another tournament and just another chance to play well.
“This is such a great opportunity to play with the professionals at the end of the day I am just an amateur.”
Two birdies on the front, two on the back and one bogey put Spain’s Maria Herraez Galvez on three-under-par and within two shots of the lead.
“It’s been a long pre-season and we’ve been doing a lot of work on the course and off the course.
“We just wanted to see where it would take us, and I think all this work is really paying off. I just want to keep doing the same. I will stay patient and hopefully I can record an even better round tomorrow.”
At the back end of last season, Herraez Galvez found her form with two top 10 finishes and a win on the Santander Golf Tour.
“I was very sad that the season was over so fast at the end of last year and I think that just kept giving me energy in the off season.
“I was really looking forward to coming back and started competing again. My goal this year is a top 7, but why not top 1?
“The course this week is in great shape, and I love coming here, it’s beautiful. We’ve got sun, we’ve been lucky. It’s just such a great place to start the season.”
Tied in second with Herraez Galvez was two? Other players, the Netherlands’ Pasqualle Coffa and Finland’s Tia Teiniketo.
Teiniketo, who started on 10, rolled in five birdies and had two bogeys to finish a first day at Terre Blanche strong.
“It is my first day here and I can’t get over how beautiful it is. Even if I have a bad shot, I don’t mind as I look around and think I’m lucky to be here.
“Off season was a difficult road with a severe wisdom tooth surgery and having a full time job as well as practice, so I’m pleased to see things come together.”
Teiniketo, an alumni at the University of Alabama had a strong rookie season on LETAS in 2023 and missed no cuts. Her best finish came at the AMUNDI Czech Ladies Challenge, where she finished in a tie for 3rd place.
“Terre Blanche reminds me of the courses we played at college, so I feel at home here.”
Four players are tied for seventh on two-under-par: Spain’s Maria Parra, Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson, Wales’ Lea Anne Bramwell and Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer.
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