England’s Charlotte Heath and Finland’s Elina Saksa share the lead on day one at the Allegria Ladies Open, after the pair opened with rounds of 66 (-4).
Both players were in the afternoon side of the draw, so were subjected to a 40-minute delay to their tee times after play was suspended at 11:35 due to flooded greens.
Saksa carded an almost flawless first round with a strong start of three birdies in her front nine on holes one, four and nine before producing a stunning eagle on the 14th.
A bogey on the 18th set her back one shot to the co-leader position.
Speaking about her opening round, Saksa said: “My whole game was solid out there. I hit a lot of greens, which was good around this golf course as it has smaller greens.
“Tomorrow, I want to just keep hitting solid iron shots and hopefully make a few more putts, and I think I’ll be good to go.”
The 25-year-old has had a solid start to her rookie season with a highest finishing position of fourth at the season opener in Terre Blanche.
“So far, this season has been great. I’m enjoying myself out here. I feel like I’m in the right place. I think the vibes are just really, good over here. So, I think that’s channelling into my golf as well, so I’m enjoying it.”
Fellow rookie Charlotte Heath also impressed with a composed first round that featured five birdies. She dropped her only shot of the day on the 11th, to finish four-under par.
“I didn’t really think I hit the ball that well, but my putts were solid.
“As I said yesterday, it’s my favourite club in the bag. So that really showed out there.”
Heath turned professional in June 2024 and made her professional debut at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship on the Epson Tour, having secured status at Q-School the previous autumn.
This season she is playing on LETAS and has enjoyed travelling to new courses.
“This course is hilly. It’s a hard walk. I think it’s kind of an unusual set up with two par fives in a row and two par threes in a row.
“I think it challenges you all around, which I really enjoyed.”
Heath, who was the low amateur at the 2023 Women’s British Open, has had an impressive start to her rookie season on LETAS finishing runner-up in her debut event, the Madaëf Golfs Ladies Open in Morocco.
“This is my third event, and I’m still enjoying it. Everyone in this tour is so nice. The courses are fun, so I can’t complain about anything.”
Speaking about her goal for the year, Heath has one clear objective.
“Just the top seven. That’s my goal.”
English amateur Jessica Hall had an up and down round of six birdies and three bogeys to finish one shot off the lead on three-under-par.
“Tomorrow, I want to stick to the same thing as today and have the same game plan as it worked. Let’s go out and do the same again.”
The 26-year-old has played a full season and made all three cuts so far with a highest finish of 7th at the Madaef Golfs Ladies Open.
“This year I want to just try and get the top 25 on the Order of Merit and pass the first stage at Q school, but just really see how it goes.”
Normally accompanied by her father on Tour, Hall is enjoying having her mum out here to watch.
“My mum is with me this week, i’s usually my dad, but he didn’t come this week, so it’s kind of nice to have somebody different.
“She doesn’t know anything about golf, so it’s quite nice to not talk golf, though.”
The Leaderboard is tightly packed with Italy’s Emma Lundgren and Singapore’s Aloysa Atienza on two-under-par.
Four players are tied for sixth on one-under-par. These are Switzerland’s Tiffany Arafi, France’s Emma Falcher and Swedes Isabella Deilert and Louisa Carlbom.
Round two begins at 7:45am. At the end of which there will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties.
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