Australia’s Kelsey Bennett brought her A game to the first round of the Montauban Ladies Open to card a personal best of nine-under-par, 63.
Looking relaxed, Bennett walked off the 18th green with a big smile after carding three birdies and an eagle on the front nine and four consecutive birdies on the back.
“I’ve been working a lot with my coach on my swing and well on all my game.
“So, it’s great to see it all come together today. I’m very happy with a personal best.”
Bennett had her breakthrough win at The Athena three months ago on the WPGA and despite it being a non-traditional format she believes winning that event has given her confidence.
“I want to keep playing well, I will do that by sticking to my processes.
“It’s great to see your name at the top of the leaderboard. So hopefully I can keep myself there until Sunday afternoon.”
Four shots behind Bennett lies England’s Amy Taylor who also fired a flawless round of five birdies to finish the first round on five-under-par.
“I put a new putter in the bag this week because that has been my weakness the last couple of weeks and it has worked well, it’s been a good day for the putter.”
Taylor who last won at the LETAS season finisher, the Calatayud Ladies Open in 2022 has had a strong start to her season on LETAS after a third-place finish and making three cuts on the LET.
“I just want to enjoy my golf and if I can do that regardless of score, I will be happy”.
In tied third place lies Norway’s Karoline Lund and Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer on four-under-par.
Lund has spent the last three weeks on the road competing in the LET events across Europe but is now switching her attention to LETAS.
“It’s always difficult spending time between the two tours but this year I am focusing on LETAS and trying to get into the top seven which is my goal. I want my full card back on the LET.
“A win this week would mean everything, I’ve had back surgery in October, so it’s not been an easy road. I’m excited for the rest of the week and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Muehlbauer, a queen of consistency, who has finished 10th for two years and 11th for one on the LETAS Order of Merit, feels this year her game is at its strongest.
“Tomorrow I just want to have as much fun as we had today, it was great fun with Liautier and Olsen.
“Yet there are plenty of holes to go, so I will take it shot by shot, hole by hole and whatever happens happens!”
Five players tied for fifth on three-under-par; Denmark’s Natacha Host Husted, Italy’s Erika De Martini, Japan’s Maho Hayakawa, Sweden’s Isabell Elkstrom and Scotland’s Louise Duncan
Round two starts at 8:30am local time and there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties at the end of the day.
Follow all the action throughout the tournament on the LETAS social media channels – @letaccess on Instagram, X, and Ladies European Tour Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #Access2Let #MontaubanLadiesOpen.
