Cara Gainer fired an opening round of 65 (-7) to sit at the top of the leaderboard as the first round was suspended at the Dormy Open Helsingborg.
Play was suspended at 14.49 (local time) due to the threat of lightning and after a delay of three hours and 26 minutes, the groups headed back out onto the course.
Before the delay happened, it was a great start for the Englishwoman who rolled in four consecutive birdies on holes two to five.
Once play resumed, the 28-year-old made further birdies on the 12th, 14th and 17th to sit at the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par.
“I got off to such a great start,” said Gainer. “I was hitting some really nice shots really close and making putts. I actually missed a few putts in the first eight holes, it could have been even better.
“I went back out there and tried to play steady golf. I’m exhausted, it’s been such a long day. I was just trying to keep the focus and not make mistakes. Those last few holes I could tell, I was getting tired. I was getting a little lazy with my swing, so I reminded myself you only have four more holes to play just keep it going.
“I have actually put in brand new irons this week which was a pretty risky move when I’m really trying to get up the rankings and get points every tournament. I’m really pleased with how they’re coming out.
“I have been working on a few things and been working on tempo and just relaxing and play golf and try to enjoy it and not overthink the season and just play each hole as it comes.”
Four players sit in a share of second place with England’s Annabell Fuller, Switzerland’s Kim Metraux, Alexandra Swayne of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Poland’s Dorota Zalewska all on five-under-par.
It was a bogey-free day for England’s Fuller who began her day from the 10th tee and rolled in birdies on holes 10, 12, 14, 18 and eight.
“I played pretty well,” said the LET rookie. “I was pretty consistent and pretty steady. There were lots of fairways and greens, which always helps.
“Any mistakes I did make, I recovered pretty quickly. I was never really in trouble which was nice as well and it makes it a stress-free round.
“I have been hitting it good recently, it just hasn’t come together. I have been making silly mistakes here and there, but I have been making birdies recently, so it was nice to have lots of birdies still and not have the mistakes.”
Switzerland’s Metraux had only her dropped shot of the day on the 12th making a bogey on the par-five, but the 29-year-old bounced back with a birdie on the 14th.
She then rolled in three on the trot on holes 17, 18 and one and made further birdies on holes three and five to be in second place on five-under.
“It was a very enjoyable day; I had a really nice group,” said Metraux. “I had a great time. I have my mum on the bag this week – haven’t had her on the bag for a while, so very enjoyable.
“I hit some really good shots, made a few putts, I’m really happy with it. The long game was higher quality today than it has been the last few weeks.
“I made a few tweaks on the range yesterday and had a good feel coming into today. I hit pretty much every green today, which made it a little bit easier.”
At last week’s Jabra Ladies Open, Metraux’s young sister Morgane clinched her second LET title and the older Metraux sister wants to join her in the winner’s circle soon.
She explained: “It was an amazing week for all the family. It was great for her to do it so close to home with friends and family cheering her on. She’s 2-0 on me now, so I better get moving and get close to her and catch her.
“We have always evolved together and grown together in the game of golf. Now she’s a little bit ahead, so I’m going to try and catch her up. Seeing her win makes me believe I can, and we’ve had a few good weeks for Swiss players, so I want to put my name up there as well.”
Swayne also had a bogey-free afternoon rolling in birdies on holes five, eight, nine, 16 and 17 to card her round of 67.
“I’m hitting it well, I hit four fairways and 18 greens,” said Swayne. “I’m having a lot of fun out there and I think that’s what is allowing me to play so well.
“Two weather delays isn’t ideal, but I’m still having fun out there. I had a lot of nine-footers today. I didn’t make all of them, but I made enough.”
While Poland’s Zalewska was one of the later afternoon tee times and sits on five-under-par with three holes left to complete.
There are still six groups left to complete their first round and they will resume at 8 am (local time) with the second round beginning also at 8 am (local time).
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