A low scoring round one at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh ends with Alison Lee leading the Individual competition with Team Ciganda and Team Law tied at the top in the 36-hole event.
It was a day to remember for Lee who equalled not one but two Ladies European Tour (LET) records at Riyadh Golf Club carding eight consecutive birdies en route to a historic round of 61 (-11).
“Today was just one of those days that golf just felt really easy,” Lee said, who sits two shots ahead of her namesake Minjee. “A dream round. I wish every day felt like this. I was telling my caddie, ‘gosh golf is so easy’. Obviously I don’t say that every day but it was one of those days.”
After birdying the 12th hole (Lee started on the 10th), the 28-year-old soon entered the history books making eight red numbers in a row between the 15th and 4th to match compatriot Kelly Whaley’s birdie run from the 2022 Aramco Saudi Ladies International.
Not content with tying one record, Lee would fire two more birdies coming in on the par-3 6th and par-4 9th to join England’s Kirsty A Taylor (2005 Wales Ladies Championship) and America’s Jessica Korda (2021 Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande) with the lowest rounds LET history.
“Coming down the stretch I started to realise I’m on 59 watch here,” Lee said. “But I missed a couple of good birdie chances coming in. Not too disappointed. We still have two days left but I feel like it’s a really nice golf course, it’s a fairly easy golf course, pretty easy to attack pins and make a lot of birdies.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee sits solo second after continuing her excellent form with a round of 63 (-9) at Riyadh Golf Club.
“I played really really solid,” the three-time LET winner said. “I made a ton of birdies and had four birdies in a row so that was really nice. I’ve been hitting it really solid and come into this week with a lot of confidence from last week. I had another really great day.”
Hot in form, Lee arrives in Saudi Arabia after two victories in her last three LPGA starts – the most recent coming at last week’s BMW Ladies Championship where she defeated Alison Lee in a playoff.
“I played one round with Alison [Lee] last week and then obviously beat her in a playoff,” the Australian said. “She’s got such great talent and I’ve actually known her for quite a while. We rookied together [on the LPGA] in the same year. We’ve both been on Tour nine years and it’s always nice to have great competition. That’s what we play for.”
Eight LET stars share third position on seven-under par, a group which includes Czechia’s Jana Melichova, Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta, Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup, Scotland’s Kylie Henry, Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg, Wales’ Chloe Williams, and Solheim Cup heroines Carlota Ciganda and Charley Hull.
In the Team competition, it is Ciganda’s side who leads the way alongside Team Law on a staggering 21-under par.
“It’s been a fun day,” the Spaniard said, who tee’d up alongside Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, Czechia’s Sara Kouskova, and Saudi Arabian amateur Lujan Khalil.
“We made a lot of birdies between the three of us. It was great fun to watch the great shots that they hit. As everyone knows, I love team events and yeah hopefully we can have a good day tomorrow and win this thing.”
While Fanali said: “I loved playing with her [Ciganda] and Sara [Kouskova] as well. I knew Carlota a bit before because we met at Arizona State University so I was excited to play together. We finally got to play together so it’s fun, a lot of fun!”
Team Law, made up of the British trio Bronte Law, Meghan MacLaren and Chloe Williams, as well as amateur Mohammed Almusbahi, also had a memorable day combining for 23 birdies to reach the number.
Winner of the 2022 Aramco Team Series – London Individual event, Law said: “We’ve really complemented each other well today. We kind of took it in turns of who’s contributing.
“Both Chloe and Meghan played really well and you know, I think we went out with the intention of going low. I grew up playing with these two and to be playing with them now, I’d say probably about seven, eight years later from our amateur days, it’s really cool and feels like kind of a full circle moment.
“I’m really enjoying it would be really cool to get the job done tomorrow.”
Six teams are tied in third position on 19-under par. This sextet includes Team Pettersson, Team Dagar, Team Hedwall, Team Broch Estrup, Team Minjee Lee, and Team Van Dam.
Round two of the Aramco Team Series – Riyadh tees off tomorrow at 7:20 local time.
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