Highgate home and dry to lead after rain delayed Ladies English Open

Natalie Booth and her caddyformer European Tour pro Martin Lemeseurier

“I knew there were some tough conditions out there so I had a good chance of having one of the best scores of the morning. I think the wet conditions suit me because I fly the ball in the air and I need a lot of carry.”

Like Masters and Moltke-Leth, Germany’s Martina Eberl had completed 12 holes when play came to a close for the day and she sat one shot off the lead on two-under-par.

She finished the day one stroke ahead of England’s Natalie Booth, who posted a one-under-par 71.

Booth, from New Milton in Hampshire, was playing in only her third Ladies European Tour event of the season and her caddy was the former European Tour pro Martin Lemeseurier, who played at Chart Hills a fortnight ago in the European Tour’s stage one Qualifying School, where he finished 19th with a total score of nine-under-par over four rounds.

Booth tied with compatriot Rebecca Hudson of Doncaster, who was one-under after 12 holes and Australia’s Alison Munt, who was one-under after 15.