Czech amateur Sara Kouskova fires an early career-best 64 (-8) to take a five-shot lead at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge from Elena Colombo and Natalia Escuriola Martinez.
The course at Golf & Spa Resort Konopiste looked sensational with the summer approaching and Kouskova took advantage of the conditions as she took an early lead after a spectacular round.
“It was a nice day on the golf course. I had a slower start; an early bogey came on my third hole. But then I kind of caught the momentum on number six where I had a tap in birdie. I hit my irons really well today.“
Despite her slower start, Kouskova started going low with a near hole-in-one on the par three 6th. Adding five more birdies on the next eight holes before holing out her second shot on the par four 15th for an eagle, the Czech amateur added the last birdie of her round on the par three 16th.
“The hole-out on number fifteen felt great. I hit a three-quarter pitching wedge, it landed past the pin and spun back into the hole. It concluded the day and the way I was hitting my irons,” said the local star. “I stayed calm during the round even knowing I might shoot my career low.”
Trailing by five shots at three-under-par is another amateur, Swiss Elena Colombo with three birdies, fifteen pars and a flawless round of 69 (-3). Her score was matched by Spaniard Natalia Escuriola Martinez who started with three birdies on her first four holes and added one more birdie and a bogey in the rest of her round.
Total of thirteen players shot under par in today’s opening round including five amateurs. Czech amateur Patricie Mackova had a sensational back nine as she shot four-under-par and finished with a final score of 70 (-2).
“I did not start very well and was not feeling good about my game and my putting. I had a lot of long putts on the front nine and I was just hoping I would not three putt. But then it got better on the back nine and I made a few birdies there,” said Mackova. “This is my ninth start in a professional event so I could definitely build on previous experience. I wasn’t nervous which helped me go low on the back nine.”
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