Norway’s Madelene Stavnar fired an opening round of 68 (-4) to be the clubhouse leader on the first day of the 2025 Ladies Slovak Golf Open at Gray Bear Golf Course, Tale.
Stavnar, who started on 10, holds a one-shot lead thanks to a flawless front nine of five birdies.
Another birdie dropped on her 11th hole but then Stavnar slowed down with three bogeys in the next five holes before finding her game again to finish with two birdies and one more bogey.
Speaking about her week so far, Stavnar said: “This game can be so funny. I came here on Monday and Tuesday and I was hitting the ball bad. I was calling my coaches every day and then we figured something out yesterday afternoon.
“That kind of worked but today I had no idea what to expect.
“Every shot was a fight for me because I felt super uncomfortable, but I knew if I did it right the outcome would be ok. I ran out of a bit of brain power towards the end of the round.”
Stavnar is accompanied by her father this week, who often caddies for her.
“He’s been with me ever since I turned professional. He loves caddying and we make a good team.”
This is Stavnar’s first time in Slovakia and she’s loving the country and the course so far.
“It’s lovely. I’m really impressed by the golf course and the area. It’s pretty. I’m a little scared of the bears but I’ve not seen one yet.
“It’s a tricky course especially on the greens and the bunkers are a no go.”
In 2025 so far, Stavnar has recorded four top 10 finishes on LETAS.
She comes into this week off the back of her first missed cut at the Ahlsell Trophy by Destination Jonkoping.
Stavnar is in the notoriously tricky position of playing between both the LET and LETAS this year.
The Norwegian’s best result on the LET this season has been tied 23rd at the Hulencourt Women’s Open.
Summing up her season so far, Stavnar said: “I feel like I’m heading in the right direction. There has been a lot of ups and downs, like this career always had but I feel like I’m trending in the right way which is nice.
“I will try to not put too much pressure on myself and just do as good as I can and see what the results will be tomorrow.”
Leading the home charge is Slovakia’s Katarina Drocarova. The 24-year-old fired four birdies and one bogey to finish day one in second.
Speaking about her round, Drocarova said: “If you had told me yesterday, I would be three under for the first round I would be happy, but I know I left some shots out there. It makes me hungrier for tomorrow.
“Before the round I was more excited than nervous. I know this golf course and I was excited to play. I didn’t have any high expectations, so I think that helped.
“I just took it one step at a time, and I started off with birdie which helped me a lot and set the tone.”
Playing at home is special for the Slovaks as they were 10 years without the European circuit visiting. Seeing the young kids in the crowd today felt like a full circle moment for Drocarova.
“My mum, dad, my aunt and some cousins are out here supporting which is nice. I also saw a young girl following me. It was so sweet seeing the young Slovak golfers out there supporting.
“It’s a big deal having a women’s golf tournament again. I was them 15 years ago. I was 10 years old when I came to watch the LET events.
“That was the first time I got to see professional golf and now I’m here from the other perspective. It warms my heart.”
Drocarova tees it up at 8:07am local time alongside Scotland’s Hannah McCook and Swiss amateur Yana Beeli.
“Tomorrow, I want to stay patient and hit it to all the good spots on the green.”
Finland’s Anna Backman also fired a round of 69 (-3) to tie in second place after day one.
“It was surprisingly good today. I’m not feeling the greatest this week, so my thoughts were to just go out there and survive which I did.
“I didn’t hold any long putts, they were all close, so I think my approach game was my strength today.
“Tomorrow, I want to keep the same mindset and not think too much about it. I want to go out there, have fun and survive.”
Backman has history with this course having finished tied seventh at last year’s edition of the tournament.
“The course is quite tricky, and we have a certain expectation about the course. It’s great to know the course well beforehand as it takes less out of you.”
2025 marks Backman’s second season on Tour. Last season she finished 61st, just outside retaining her LETAS card but earnt playing rights for this season at Q School after advancing to final qualifiers.
This year Backman has made eight cuts including one top 10 finish at the Montauban Ladies Open. The Finn currently sits 43rd on the LETAS Order of Merit.
“This season has been steady. I’d say I’ve been close to playing well. For the rest of the season, I just want to bring my best out because I know I haven’t been as good as I could have. I want to try and get that out of me for the rest of the season.”
Four players are tied for fourth on two-under-par including home favourite Michaela Vavrova.
The Slovak is joined by Italy’s Maria Vittoria Corbi, Czechia’s Tereza Melecka and England’s Gemma Clews.
Five players are tied for eighth. Amongst them is Slovakia’s Anika Bolcikova and LET player Jana Melichova who is using this as a test event after returning from injury.
Round two begins at 7:45am local time. Following play there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties heading into Friday’s final round.
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