Mexico’s Maria Fassi showed off her explosive power and fine form during the opening round of the Lalla Meryem Cup firing a flawless 65 (-8) to lead by three shots in Rabat.
Fassi, who started on 10, got off to a hot start rolling in three birdies within the first five holes.
At the turn, the LPGA player fired up her flatstick to roll in three consecutive birdies before rolling in another two on holes five and eight.
Speaking about her round Fassi said: “I don’t see many bogey free rounds so I am very proud of our work today. It was easy and we had fun.
“We had an amazing group and good crowd, so it was all round a great day and awesome first round.
“I’m super thankful for my caddy for keeping me in it and keeping me laughing. I wasn’t really thinking about the golf out there.”
The 25-year-old who represented Mexico at the Tokyo Olympics is enjoying experiencing playing in the tournament for the first time and relishes the opportunity to play on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
“This is my first time in Morocco, my first time in Africa as a whole and it’s been great. People are extremely kind and welcoming.
“I love to play on the LET, I have a lot of friends that play here. I don’t get to see them as much as I like, so it’s always a good time.
“The LET is getting stronger and stronger every year and I am grateful I got the invite. Hopefully I can continue to take advantage of it.”
Home favourite Ines Laklalech got the crowds fired up with a phenomenal first round of five-under-par.
The 2022 Lacoste Ladies Open de France champion had a slower start to the day with a birdie finally dropping on hole 13 before a bogey on 15.
Yet Laklalech held her nerve to secure back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17 and the Moroccan continued the momentum to card six birdie and two bogeys to finish three shots behind playing partner Fassi.
“It was a great day,” Laklalech expressed, “It felt way better on the greens than a few days ago. That’s golf. Feelings change day by day.
“The strategy which we set up with my caddy before the round was good. I’m very happy with this first round.”
“Playing with Maria is inspiring; she has great rhythm. She was chasing after birdies, and I was following her rhythm as well. It helped.”
Laklalech dreamt of playing at the Lalla Meryem Cup as a child and is enjoying home comforts this week.
“It was great to see family, friends following around today. I wanted to give that extra boost for them as well.
“Being an inspiration to the kids out here is a privilege. I play because I love the game and then being able to inspire young kids is very special.“
Despite having all eyes on her this week, Laklalech has hers on the trophy.
“The goal each week is to win and whether I’m going to do it or not, I don’t know but I do my best every time.
“The fact that I won two years ago is really helping me. I have trust that I can do it again.”
Spain’s Teresa Toscano, who earnt her LET card through Q School in back in December sits one shot behind Laklalech on four-under-par.
Fellow Spaniard Marta Martin, winner of the 2023 Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge on the LET Access Series (LETAS) sits in fourth on three-under-par.
There is a nine-way tie for fifth place with some notable names sitting behind the first day leaders including 2023 LET Order of Merit winner Trichat Cheenglab, India’s Diksha Dagar and LETAS graduate Hannah Screen.
Round two of the Lalla Meryem Cup gets under way on Friday at 8:30am local time.
Follow all the action on @LETGolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame #LallaMeryemCup.
