Sweden’s Ellinor Haag is leading the qualifier for the main part of the Big Green Egg Swedish Matchplay Championship.
Nordic Golf Tour hosts the unusual format at the Johannesberg Golf Club where the top 16 players progress into the main competition.
The field of 58 players competed in the first 18-hole qualification with matches over six holes within the group of four.
Winning a hole gave the player one point, a shared hole gave two points, and a lost hole got three points. The same format will be held tomorrow for the second round of qualifiers.
Haag, who finished T23 in the AMUNDI Czech Ladies Challenge, had the lowest total of all players with 27 points.
She was the only player in today’s qualifier who did not lose a single point, winning nine holes and halving the other nine.
The 28-year-old won her three matches against playing partners Emilie Alonso of France, Reme Cortes of Spain, and amateur Louise Henningsson of Sweden.
She said: “My plan today was to hit driver a lot. I am from Sigtuna which is only 42 kilometres away from here, so I have my boyfriend on the bag who is a great support, and he is good at reading putts.”
Norwegian amateur Celine Brovold Sanne sits in second place with 30 points and Sweden’s Emilia Collowin and Switzerland’s Elena Colombo are tied for third with 31 points.
Colombo said: “I enjoyed today’s round, especially because the format here is very specific; in the days of qualification, we play three matches in 18 holes. The strategy is very much influenced by the game and how your opponent plays. In general, I like playing both the stroke play and match play, but I think more match play competition would be fun.”
Only the top 16 players will qualify to day three with no ties; a play-off will be held if needed to decide the 16thplayer.
After the first day, there are four players tied for 13th with 33 points. Finland’s Niina Liias, Scotland’s Gabrielle Macdonald and Swedish duo Linn Andersson and Isabell Ekström are taking the final four spots that would progress into the main competition.
Keep up with the scores – here.
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