Despite challenging weather conditions, Sweden’s Moa Fridell surged out of the gates with an impressive opening round of 66 (-6) to secure a two-stroke lead.
A round of eight birdies and only two bogeys put Fridell comfortably at the top of the leaderboard and today marks her lowest round ever as a professional.
Speaking about her first round, Fridell said: “It was tough out there, I made some pretty good putts out there today. I hit the greens, rolled it in and it was fun out there.
Fridell has played 15 events this season and has a highest finish of tied 18th at the Allegria Ladies Open, back in May.
“I have had three tough weeks before this one. My confidence has not been the best so I’m happy with that round.
“When I saw the tee times, I was happy because it looked like we had the better draw. The rain came in early, but I just wanted to keep going, have fun.”
Fridell turned professional in 2023 after completing four years at a sports high school for golf. The 23-year-old decided to not go to college and pursue the professional ranks straightaway.
“This is my first time coming in as clubhouse leader so that makes me nervous. Tomorrow I will just keep going, keep doing the same and keep believing in myself.”
Play was suspended at 12:26 local time due to heavy rain but soon got underway again at 13:00. This resulted in a 45-minute delay to the afternoon tee times.
Germany’s Sophie Witt and LETAS’ number two ranked player Katharina Muehlbauer both carded rounds of 68 (-4) to sit second.
It was a steady start for 22-year-old Witt with eight pars and one birdie on her front nine. At the turn, Witt fired up the flatstick with four more birdies and one bogey to cement her name at the top of the leaderboard after day one.
“It was very tough today. It hammered it down in the first eight and it felt like we just had to survive out there. In all 18 holes I was solid in my long game. That helped me out there.
“I think I’m very lucky that my home course is as hilly as here. Its slopy too so that helped me a lot with the shapes and the long game.”
Witt came to LETAS this season after losing her LET status at the end of 2024. It was a slow start to the season but recently the German has made five consecutive cuts.
Her highest finish was 12th at the Ladies Slovak Golf Open thanks to a low scoring final round of 68.
“After my injury and losing my LET card last year, having a round like this is very good. This season has been all about process. In the beginning it was very tough.
“Mentally wise I needed to accept to be here and fight through it. I’m now back where I should be and I will go step by step. I need to trust it and results like today even in very bad and tough conditions affirm everything.”
Witt is joined this week by her mum, Anja on the bag who has travelled alongside her all season.
“My mum and my dad play a big role. It’s hard for my mum carrying because she has a knee injury and so this course is tough for her. It means a lot because you’re not alone, she’s fighting with me through it.”
Muehlbauer carded two bogeys, four birdies and one eagle to finish up there after day one.
Speaking about her opening round, Muehlbauer said: “After that I’m feeling good.
“There are two more rounds to go and tomorrow weather wise isn’t looking good either so we will see what happens out there but it feels good to card a four under.”
The Austrian has had an amazing season on Tour. She is currently ranked second on the LETAS Order of Merit. With 1,500.03 points her LET card for next year is secure.
“Knowing that I am secure just lifts off so much pressure and I don’t feel like I must prove it to anyone anymore. I can play freely.”
Muehlbauer enters this event after a top five at the Rose Ladies Open which helped her to gain momentum during this latter part of the season.
“I think I have a lot of momentum coming into this week. I feel like my game is getting better and back to where it was.”
Playing together, Mexico’s Fernanda Lira and Iceland’s Andrea Bergsdottir both birdied their last hole to finish day one tied fourth.
France’s Lucie Malchirand, Switzerland’s Tiffany Arafi, USA’s Annika Borrelli and Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza are all tied for sixth on two-under-par.
Round two commences at 8:20am. At the end of the day there will be a cut to the top 30 professionals and ties after 36 holes.
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