Blomqvist leads at Barseback
BY iseekgolf.com | Ladies European Tour | 2007 Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika | Round One | 10 Aug 2007
An impressive performance on the back nine gave Minea Blomqvist the first round at the Scandinavian TPC Hosted by Annika.
The 22-year-old from Finland carded a four-under-par round of 68 to move one stroke clear of Sweden’s Louise Stahle and American Laura Diaz.
Blomqvist posted two birdies and a bogey on the opening nine holes at Barseback Golf and Country Club, in Malmo, Sweden. But three birdies in five holes on the back nine allowed the 2004 OTP Bank Central Open winner to emerge as the outright leader.
Sweden’s Maria Hjorth tied with early leader Jade Schaeffer of France and Swedish amateur Caroline Hedwall, twin sister of Jacqueline, who is also in the field, on two-under-par 70.
Schaeffer’s eagle on the 17th hole, where she holed her approach shot from 110 yards, helped her to take the clubhouse lead at lunchtime.
Stahle, who is sponsored by Barseback Golf and Country Club heads a list of eight Swedish players in the top 13, which also includes European Solheim Cup Team hopefuls Hjorth, Sophie Gustafson, Linda Wessberg, Lotta Wahlin, Carin Koch and host Annika Sorenstam are all on one-under 71.
Blomqvist, who splits her time between the Ladies European Tour and the American-based Ladies Professional Golf Association, needed only 24 putts during her round of 68.
She added that European Solheim Cup Team captain Helen Alfredsson had also helped her overcome her confidence issues.
“When I was in US, she was there so I stayed with her in her house for a couple of weeks practicing together,” she said. “She’s been very supportive, even though I haven’t been playing all that well this year.”
Blomqvist admitted that her game had been so bad in recent weeks that she asked her coach Timo Rauhala to caddy for her at Barseback this week.
“I haven’t been playing so good,” she said. “He (Rauhala) said the only goal is to see perfect shots this week. I tried to stay with it today.”
Stahle, 22, said that although she hadn’t played her home course regularly in recent years, the chance to return to Sweden had helped her to find confidence after a disappointing showing at last week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open in which she missed the cut.
“You always feel more confident when you know the greens,” she said. “I went out in the evenings and practised my putting, and I think it paid off.”
It was a ‘funny day’ for Sorenstam, the defending champion, who was greeted by hundreds of supporters when she teed off at 8.20am alongside Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and American Brittany Lincicome.
“It was a little bit of a rollercoaster,” said the 69-time LPGA and 15-time LET tournament winner.
“I had a bunch of birdies and a bunch of bogeys. I am not quite as pleased with my game as I could be. I missed several fairways and greens, but I hit some really good shots and putted well.”
Karen Lunn heads the Australasians following even par round of 72 to close the day in equal 14th place. Shani Waugh is one shot back and shares 18th. Niki Garrett, who sits 7th on the LET moneylist got off to a slow start and sits in equal 41st alongside Kiwi veteran Lynn Brooky.
Source – LET
