Flying Finn Blomqvist leads in Tenerife

(Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, April 29 2004) Minea Blomqvist from Finland began her career as a professional golfer on the Ladies European Tour with a blistering six under par 66 to lead after the opening round of the €220,000 Tenerife Ladies Open at Buenavista GC in the north of the island.

Danish delight – Amanda Moltke-Leth

“I was still very nervous standing on the first tee but when I made birdie, I felt nice again,” admitted Blomqvist, who would have made Ballesteros proud as she needed only 25 putts on his fiendish greens.

“I have been working with Pia Nilsson (Former Solheim Cup captain) all last year and now I realise I can’t get stressed anymore and to make each shot very special and I couldn’t do that when I was stressed. It’s easier to play and have fun now and I am not kicking as many trees as before!”

“Not getting my card at Q-School was very disappointing and I was crying two days afterwards and now I’m trying to go for a win this year so I can relieve all the stresses of having to go back to Q-School.”

Moltke-Leth took the early lead on five under with a powerful display, making light work of the front nine where she closed out with an eagle three to turn in four under.

Turning for home was not as easy for the 27-year-old from Copenhagen but she posted her lowest score of her career to date with a finely crafted 67.

“I’m very happy now,” beamed the gregarious Dane. “I was talking to Christina (Kuld) and we were saying that two round of level par here, both of us would have been delighted.

“I’m trying to be more patient than I have ever been before and I’ve been working on not being too greedy and play the game I have. Sometimes I’ve been guilty of wanting it too much so I decided to play it a little easier and it worked lovely today.

“I made some great putts out there and the par fives are pretty short for me, so I can score out there.”