It was a fantastic first day for Czechia’s Patricie Mackova and France’s Charlotte Liautier who sit at the top of the leaderboard after day one.
Mackova carded a round of 66 (-6) of eight birdies and two bogeys to lead alongside her playing partner after the first round.
The Czech star said: “I think we pushed each other on out there a lot.
“It was great seeing her play so well and I think I learned some of the shots maybe from her and how she hit the ball, so I think that helped me a lot.”
Mackova, who has split her season between LETAS and the LET has never failed to fall outside the top 10 on LETAS this season. This is her first time leading after the first round.
Speaking about Himmerland resort, Mackova said: “I wish I had such a golf course at home that I could practice. I’ve been to the gym as well and it’s just insane here.
“Everything’s here and I think it helped that the weather conditions today were better than the practice round.”
Mackova tees it up alongside Liautier and amateur Bobbi Brown off tee 10 at 9:02am local time tomorrow.
“It’s a quick turnaround for tomorrow so I think I’m going to try and do the same process and rest up.”
Over on the LET, Mackova has held her own and made six consecutive cuts with a highest finish of tied 15th at the Hulencourt Women’s Open.
“I’m the type of person that always wants more than she gets. I should be happy. There is space to get better, and we will take it step by step.”
Also, on six-under-par, France’s Liautier got off to a strong start with a birdie on the first hole before an eagle dropped on the fourth.
Whilst a bogey on the sixth hole set her back, at the turn she fired up the flatstick to card five birdies on the back nine with only one mistake on the 16th, dubbed “Himmerland Hill.”
“I think Patricie and I have quite similar games. We became good friends today so that was cool.
“Himmerland is an amazing place. It’s a tough course to me. Yet the greens are brilliant and that helped my putting out there.”
Liautier has had a fantastic season on LETAS. With six top 10 finishes she currently sits fifth on the LETAS Order of Merit.
“Islantilla was not my week but I’m happy with how I’ve managed my game this season. This round has given me a lot of confidence.
“Six-under around this tough course is good. It was fun and I’m looking forward to coming back tomorrow.”
England’s Ellen Hume, Australia’s Abbie Teasdale and home favourite Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen are all tied for third on four-under-par.
Leading the home charge, Kibsgaard Nielsen had a fun time at Himmerland Resort today.
“I didn’t have my best day yesterday in the Pro-Am. I wanted to play well in that, and it didn’t happen but today was different. I played solidly and I went back to the game I know.
“The course is long on some of the holes and its tough conditions so it’s hard to get close to the pin. So having five birdies today I’m very happy with that.
“I had my mum on the bag and my boyfriend and some of my sponsors watching it was great. It was just fun.”
Kibsgaard Nielsen, a regular LET player, who won the LETAS Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year rankings in 2023 is enjoying playing at home.
“Tonight, we are going to have a nice dinner all together. It’s not usually something I would do but this week was an opportunity to enjoy and spend some quality time with my team.
“I’m trying to make it more of a chill week. With the issues with my knee, I didn’t want to put unnecessary pressure on myself.
“I always want to do well and play well every week when I show up. I am here to perform and do my best so I can use the things that happen here and move on and work on it for the next stretch on the LET.”
2024’s LETAS Order of Merit winner Kajsa Arwefjall and Slovakia’s Michaela Vavrova sit sixth on three-under-par whilst England’s Gemma Clews and Dutch amateur Hester Sicking round out the top 10 on two-under-par.
Round two begins at 7:45 local time. At the end of the day there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties.
For more information on the LET Access Series, visit letaccess.com and follow @LETAccess on Facebook, Instagram and X – #Access2LET.
