Lucie Andre
France’s Lucie Andre, Sanna Nuutinen from Finland and Sweden’s Emma Nilsson are tied for the lead at 5 under par after the first round of the Open Generali de Strasbourg at Golf de Strasbourg in France.
Nuutinen was the first to complete her round of 67, which included six birdies and one bogey on her opening hole. The Finn was pleased with her improved ball striking and put it down to the work she had done on her long game last week.
“I only missed two greens today, so I made it pretty easy for myself. The greens are really fair and running really well. I didn’t make that many long putts, I hit it really close especially on the par 5 s. I played the par 5’s in 4 under, which is a big improvement from my last tournament.”
Nilsson, a winner twice last season on the LET Access Series, also recorded 6 birdies and one bogey. The Swede has not had the best of starts to her year, missing two cuts but the 21-year-old has returned to form this week.
Andre comes into the event with a recent 7th place finish at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and a tie for 3rd at the first Generali Ladies tour event, the Open General de Dinard in April.
The 27-year-old took the sole lead with a birdie on the par five 4th hole but a late bogey on her 16th hole brought the Frenchwomen back into a tie at 5 under par.
Five players, Portugal’s Joana De Se Periera, French amateur Chloe Salort and England’s Kym Larratt, Kiran Matharu and Charlotte Thompson, are all tied for 4th place at 4 under par, 68.
