Emie Peronnin
Emie Peronnin of France shot an opening 67, five under par, to lead the Lavaux Ladies Championship at Golf de Lavaux on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
The 23-year-old from Montlucan, whose best finish this season is a tie for 17th at the Viaplay Ladies Finnish Open a couple of weeks ago, was delighted to produce her career best score, with six birdies and a single bogey on the par four 13th.
“It was pretty good, it was pretty fun. I played with Laura Murray so we kind of bounced off each other, so it was really fun actually.”
Peronnin felt there was no part of her game particularly strong or weak, she was just able to limit any mistakes.
“I think everything was just working really fine like when I was not hitting the ball well I made some good putts and then when I was not putting well I got it close to the pin, so I think everything was actually working together. It’s my lowest round ever so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Having only been a professional for a few months, the young French player has not had much experience of leading a professional event but her main goal this week is to maintain her position on the LETAS ranking.
“Yeah, I’ve only been pro for six months now so I think it maybe is the first time. Maybe in South Africa, I was close to the lead but I think maybe that this is the first time. My goal for this week was to make the cut, to ensure I was staying in the top 50 before the re-rank, so I’m pretty happy I have no pressure. I don’t have as much pressure for tomorrow so I’m just going to try to have fun and see.”
Italy’s Stefania Avanzo produced the lowest round of her season so far, with a 4 under par 68, to sit in second place. The 24-year-old has struggled a little this year, with her best result a tie for 31st in the Jabra Ladies Open.
Eight players on tied on three under par, Eun Jung Ji Kim and Natasha Fear from Spain, Laura Murray of Scotland, France’s Marie Fourquier, Oona Vartianen of Finland, England’s Rachel Goodall and Dulcie Sverdloff, and Czech amateur Tereza Melecka.
Play gets underway tomorrow at 8.00 from both the 1st and 10th tees.
