Sweden’s Meja Ortengren fired a round of 64 to lead the Anna Nordqvist Västerås Open By SmartProvider.
Ortengren continues to ride a wave after finishing third last week in Uppsala, and carded a round of eight-under-par which included an eagle on the par-five 15th and six further birdies to lead on day one in her home country.
The teenage sensation, who was recently selected for the PING Junior Solheim Cup European Team, is enjoying her game at the moment and is excited to do well in front of the Swedish crowd.
“I’m really happy, it was a lot of fun out there today. I made some great putts, so my putting was probably the strongest part of my game. I gave myself loads of opportunities as I hit a lot of greens in regulation,” she said.
“The eagle was really good, I hit the fairway, then had about 148 into the pin and I managed to put it up to three metres and sink the putt.
“Overall, it’s really fun to be here and play in front of the home audience, I didn’t expect that many of them to show up on the first day!”
South Korea’s Nayeon Eum set the clubhouse lead early on as she started the day in the second group. She fired a first round score of 66 (-6) with an early eagle on the par-five 4th and finished her great round with three birdies on the last four holes.
She said: “I was actually so happy to have people out there and I can see people on the 18thgreen. I think that’s really good. Definitely good vibes today.”
“I wasn’t expecting too much today, I just did what I had to do, and it worked out well. The eagle on four was a surprise to me as I hit the second shot into the bunker and just wanted to make an up-and-down, and it went in. I got a little more comfortable towards the end, especially after making the birdie on 17.”
Three players share the third spot on 68 (-4) after day one. Scotland’s Gabrielle Macdonald carded six birdies and two bogeys, Czechia’s amateur Sara Kouskova had a bogey-free round with four birdies, and defending champion Annelie Sjoholm carded an eagle, three birdies and one bogey at her home course.
The defending champion has been looking forward to performing in front of the home audience again for a while now, since the event last took place in 2019.
“It’s been really nice how people have come out to watch. You do something well on the course and you get an applause, they are sharing your happiness. It was great today, I started with a birdie and then I just kept saying to myself ‘hit it close, try to make a good putt, just relax and have fun’.”
“I hit it really solid from tee to green and made some good putts, it almost felt pretty easy today! We normally play two of the par-fives as par-fours so it was nice to go for the green early and get that eagle.”
Amateur Sara Kouskova, the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge champion said: “I’ve been feeling very tired so was just focused on finishing the round today. I basically shut my brain off and didn’t think about golf too much. I guess that helped a lot. Now I’m going to relax to be stronger for tomorrow.”
India’s Amandeep Drall posted another bogey-free round of 69 (-3) and shares sixth spot with Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer and Norwegian amateur Celine Brovold Sanne.
Finland’s Emilia Tukiainen and England’s Lily May Humphreys round off the top-10 as they sit in T9 on -2 after both carded a round of 70.
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