Belgium’s Lien Willems and Sweden’s Sofie Bringner are tied at the top of the leaderboard on three-under-par after the first round of the Golf Flanders LETAS Trophy.
Rinkven International Golf Club plays host to the third LETAS event of the 2021 season and it was one of the home favourites who showed fine form on the first day.
Willems, who played in 25 LET tournaments, is a member of Rinkven International Golf Club and runs the pro shop.
The Belgian golfer only dropped one shot in her opening round, making four birdies and one bogey on her way to a round of 68 to have a share of the lead.
“I was playing very steady, hitting the fairways and greens so I’m happy with the result. I practiced a few times in preparation, but not too much because it is my home course. I hope to replicate the same again tomorrow. The aim is to keep it in play and stay out of the high rough,” said Willems.
Alongside Willems at the top of the standings is Sweden’s Bringner, who is playing in her second LETAS event having made her debut at the Montauban Ladies Open.
Bringner had a solid start to her round with back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes and the Swede made three more birdies on the back nine, as well as two bogeys to earn her a share of the lead.
“It was a good day on the course. I wasn’t straight from the tee all the time, but my irons were really hot, and my putting was good too,” said the 23-year-old.
“The course is in very good shape. The greens and fairways are looking very good. Tomorrow I hope to play like I did today. Hopefully, there will be many birdies.”
One shot behind the leaders is Nina Pegova, who sits at the top of the LETAS Order of Merit, and the Russian carded a round of 69 which included three birdies and one bogey.
England’s Lily May Humphreys, who turned professional at the start of June, is one of five players on one-under-par after the first round.
Humphreys, who represented Team Europe at the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup, is joined in T4 by four amateurs – Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt, Belgium’s Sophie Bert, England’s Chiara Noja and Italy’s Manzalini Clara.
Keep up to date with all the scores and draw for round two – HERE.
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