Hannah Jun of the United States made a great start when she seized the early lead with a four under par 68 in the Hero Women’s Indian Open on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Californian played her first nine holes over the back nine in level par on a hot a sunny morning at the venerable Delhi Golf Club.
However, she picked up four birdies in five holes from the second on her inward nine.
“There are a lot of tee shots which are pretty tight on that back side so once I got through the back, the front nine is pretty score-able in terms of aiming at pins and hitting fairways so I was a little more aggressive on the back and it worked out,” said Jun, whose career best finish from four seasons on the Ladies European Tour is a tie for second at the 2011 Ladies Scottish Open.
“The whole course is tight to be honest. I consider myself to hit it pretty straight so that’s a plus. I’m pleased with four under out here, I think it’s a great score and I’m going to build on that the next two days,” said Jun, making her second visit to India.
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| Charley Hull |
Ladies European Tour Rookie Charley Hull, the youngest professional in the field at 17, finished the morning one shot back after a fine three under par 69 containing four birdies.
She birdied the second, eighth and 12th before dropping a shot on 13 but recovered with a birdie on 17.
“I hit it pretty good. I didn’t hit it that well in the practice rounds and on the range it was the worst I’ve ever hit it in my life but I went out there and flushed it again so I’m feeling pretty happy with my game,” said Hull, hoping to clinch her first victory in India after five straight runner-up finishes at the start of the season.
“I was hitting my irons very good today. The second hole, I hit it good to the top pin and holed from 10 feet for birdie, the next hole I missed an eight-footer for birdie, the next hole I edged it with my chip.”
Hull said that her approach shots were excellent, but missed a lot of putts. “The fifth hole, I put my five iron to about eight feet and missed that as well. The next hole I put it to ten feet and missed that. The next was a really good up and down. I birdied the eighth which was a par five. I hit my wedge to five feet.
“I went on and had a couple of pars but could have birdied ten, then 12 and then I hit a loose shot on 13, hit it right into the trees and chipped out. Then I hit another one badly on the next hole, miles right into the trees but got up and down.
“All in all my game was pretty good. I made a birdie on 17, hit an iron shot to six feet but missed a seven-footer at the last so a bit disappointed about that. Overall I’m happy because three under on this course is good.”
Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson was the next best in the clubhouse on one under par after a 71 containing four birdies.
“I hit my irons great and putted decent. I am pleased because it’s not an easy course,” she said. “I was in the trees a couple of times and that’s an automatic bogey. I am generally happy.”
First round play is under way on a warm and sunny afternoon, with temperatures expected to reach 28C later today.
