Spain’s Elia Folch and Marta Martin both shot rounds of 69 (-3) to lead after round one of the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge.
Folch started her day on the back nine well with two consecutive pars and a birdie on the 12th but despite a bogey on the 13th she fought back to card three more birdies.
The 32-year-old, from Barcelona, is currently ranked 19th on the Order of Merit and has only had one top-10 finish on the tour so far.
Speaking about her round, Folch said: “I’m very happy about the round today, just because it was very tough today with the wind.
“My strengths today were my mind, but also my putting today was on point, so I think that helped a lot to keep my mind going.”
Folch is excited about the prospect of two Spaniards at the top and wants to use this unique situation to give her a competitive advantage.
“Definitely having any Spaniard out there is great,” Folch said, “I’m happy to fight out there.”
“Tomorrow I’m going to do the same thing and keep on working hard, on my game and my mind.”
Folch has had a solid start to the season on the LET Access Series (LETAS), placing ninth at Santander Golf Tour- Girona and within the top-30 at both the Terre Blanche Ladies Open and Montauban Ladies Open.
“This week is more challenging than the last; it’s going to be tough out there. But I’m very happy to be here and show my game, we will see what happens!
“To win would be awesome, any win is welcome.”
Folch’s Spanish counterpart, Marta Martin also put in a great performance at Panorama Golf.
The 26-year-old got off to a strong start with five consecutive pars followed by rolling in three birdies on holes six, seven and eight before a bogey on ninth set her back one shot.
The Madrid born player kept her cool with a faultless back nine rolling in a fourth birdie on the par-four 16th.
Speaking about the first round Martin said: “It was a good day, I played solid golf and put myself in the right spots where I had to be.
“I made a couple of good putts and I’m happy with my round overall especially as the greens are firm, and it was very windy today.
The Spaniard is looking to build momentum from last week where she placed eighth at the Montauban Ladies Open, her first top 10 on LETAS.
“I think I’m doing a good job on having solid goals this year, I’m doing work right now with all my coaches so I’m just going to keep trusting it and play.
“I will try my best tomorrow with my strategy.”
It’s not just the first-round leaderboard where Folch and Martin have competition, as Martin is currently ranked 18th on the Order of Merit, one in front of Folch.
“Sharing the top of the leaderboard with a person from your country is something special, so I’m excited and hopefully we can finish the tournament this way too.”
Two strokes behind the Spanish there is a three-way tie for third place with the Netherland’s Zhen Bontan, Switzerland’s Priscilla Schmid and Czechia’s Patricie Mackova on one under par.
Bontan produced the best round of the morning carding four birdies and three bogeys to secure herself a place at the top of the leaderboard and put pressure on the afternoon groups.
Speaking about her round, Bontan said: “Today went well, the course is hard especially if you’re a little bit left or right because there is tight grass and hard rough.
“You must be patient and stay focused on where you want to go. I’m happy that I could drop some putts in, some long ones as well.
“There was a lot of birdie chances for me on the back nine and to be one-under-par on this course is a good start especially now in the afternoon with the winds a little bit more blowing.”
The Dutch player who turned professional in 2020 is currently ranked 17th on the LETAS Order of Merit and was close to entering the top-10 last week in Montauban where she finished T-11.
Speaking about the second round Bontan said: “I’m going to be patient and give myself chances to be on the fairway as that’s the most important thing, of course you will miss some greens, but short game is not as hard as if you must go out of the rough.
“It’s going to be tough for everyone, but I think the first shot is the most important one.
“I’m not thinking about Sunday because we have so many holes to play. I also don’t know if there is rain coming up, so you know I must be focused on my game and hopefully to play some good golf.”
Patricie Mackova is the highest ranked Czech player after the first round, after a shaky start with three bogeys in her first six holes, the 21-year-old amateur had an impressive comeback rolling in five birdies, four of which were on her back nine.
Five players sit one shot further back in sixth position with Morocco’s Lina Belmati, Czechia’s Katerina Vlasinova, France’s Lucie Andre, England’s Gemma Clews and Spain’s Clara Moyano Reigosa all on par.
The second round begins at 7.45 am local time on Saturday morning and there will be a cut to the top-45 professionals and ties after 36 holes.
Follow all the action from the week @letaccess on Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok and Ladies European Tour Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #AmundiCzechLadiesChallenge.
