Viva Schlasberg
Sweden’s Viva Schlasberg shot an opening round of one under par 71 at Kiev Golf Club on Tuesday to take a one stroke lead at the inaugural GolfStream Ladies Open.
Schlasberg mixed five birdies with two bogeys and a double to end the day a stroke clear of Scotland’s Katy McNicoll on a warm, sunny and breezy day in Ukraine.
Belgian Benedicte Toumpsin and Finland’s Elin Nummenpaa ended the day a stroke further back in a share of third position, but it was Schlasberg who enjoyed her day in the sun.
Starting out from the 10th hole, the 25-year-old from Landstrona GK made her first birdie of the day at the par-four 11th where she struck her 49 degree wedge to within a metre and a half of the hole.
She picked up her second stroke at the par-three 12th where she hit her eight-iron to within seven metres of the flag. At the par four 15th-hole, superb wedge play was once again in evidence as she hit her approach to within a metre and a half of the hole.
Another birdie followed at the par-five 18th after she hit a bunker shot to six metres and with just a solitary bogey at the 14th she recorded a back nine total of three under par.
She found the front nine more tricky with a bogey at the second and a double bogey at the fourth, however another birdie at the par-five fifth hole after she hit the green in two and putted twice from six metres restored her confidence coming home.
“I’m very happy, I was struggling from the tee a bit as the fairways are quite narrow and I was thinking too much,” said Schlasberg. “I love the course, from when I first stepped on it when I arrived. It’s challenging and the greens are perfect. They are very true; you know if you pick the right line, it will go in. Tomorrow I will stay aggressive and continue with the same plan as today.”
Professional golfer McNicoll, from Carnoustie, carded a level par 72 and said that she would be looking to go low over the final two rounds. McNicoll is currently mixing tournaments on the LET Access Series, Banesto Golf Tour and the Canadian Tour.
GolfStream Ladies Open
Kiev Golf Club, Ukraine
22-24 May, 2012
Scores at the end of round 1:
71 – Viva Schlasberg (SWE) 71
72 – Katy McNicoll (SCO) 72
73 – Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) 73, Benedicte Toumpsin (BEL) 73
74 – Eva Steinberger (AUT) 74, Sohvi Harkonen (FIN) 74, Rachel Bell (ENG) 74, Marianne Andersson (SWE) 74, Galina Rotmistrova (RUS) 74
75 – Pamela Feggans (SCO) 75, Lien Willems (BEL) 75, Anastasia Kostina (RUS) 75
76 – Martina Migliori (ITA) 76, Mariana Macias Capuzzi (ESP) 76, Melanie Maetzler (CHE) 76, Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 76
77 – Mary Mattson (USA) 77, Cecilie Lundgreen (NOR) 77, Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 77, Gemma Webster (SCO) 77
78 – Isabella Ramsay (SWE) 78, Ana Larraneta (ESP) 78, Laurence Herman (BEL) 78, Lucy Davies (ENG) 78
79 – Sandra Eggermont (NLD) 79, Nalini Singh Siwach (IND) 79, Chiari Brizzolari (ITA) 79, Sarah Jones (WAL) 79, Laura Sedda (ITA) 79
80 – Heather Macrae (SCO) 80, Danielle Mcveigh (IRL) 80
81 – Kirsty S Taylor (ENG) 81, Matia Maffiuletti (ITA) 81, Mianne Bagger (DNK) 81, Julie Tvede (DNK) 81
83 – Laure Sibille (FRA) 83, Kim Ulander (SWE) 83
84 – Lene Krog (NOR) 84
86 – Vicky Tomko (BEL) 86
88 – Elina Ikavalko (FIN) 88
89 – Anna Rossi (ITA) 89
93 – Sandra Carlborg (SWE) 93
