Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova fired the course record 64 (-8) at Magenta Shores on Thursday to storm into the round one lead at the Australian Women’s Classic.
The two-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner capitalised on calm conditions in New South Wales carding eight birdies and dropping no shots to lead by two after 18 holes of action.
“Honestly, it was such a steady round today,” Kouskova said, who matched her career-best round thanks to the morning flurry. “I think I struggled mentally last week a little bit and kind of going towards the season I was very excited, but then it just felt that it wasn’t there in my mind correctly.
“So we needed to work more on the mindset and sticking to the process more, not thinking about results or anything. Today was a day that I actually took a little bit more care about the mental prep and I cannot believe how well it worked. I’m really, really happy about how disciplined we were on the course.”
Kouskova hit all 18 greens and missed just one fairway on Thursday at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club. She was also boosted by some Australian fans out on the course who have hosted the Olympian, along with caddie/partner Jakub, over the past few years.
“[My hosts turned up] after I think nine holes and it just warms your heart and it’s really sweet,” Kouskova said. “My Australian grandad, as I call him, came on 18th. He was my host at Coffs Harbour from the past two years. “It’s just really nice to have that support around.”
Two back in a tie for second on six-under par sit New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori, Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea and Australia’s Kelsey Bennett.
The former, Kobori, got off to the hottest of starts at Magenta Shores playing her first nine holes in just 30 shots, six-under par.
“I was just basically trying to keep it rolling,” the 26-year-old said. “I was trying not to just put a break on myself. I think I’m pretty happy with how I did. With the greens being so pure as well, it definitely helps. If you just start on the right line with the right speed, then it tends to get somewhat close.
The Kobori family had a Thursday to remember with brother Kazuma firing a round of five-under par over on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. He also sits in T2 after 18 holes of action in New Zealand.
“Hopefully we can keep it up!” Momoka said. “My dad’s out here this week and my mum will be out next week. So it is nice to basically be very close to home. I’m very happy.”
Ecuadorian Darquea meanwhile continued her solid start to the Aussie swing matching Kobori’s score thanks to eight birdies on Thursday. The Olympian was aided by some wise words from fellow South American, Mariajo Uribe from Colombia, who won at Magenta Shores in 2024 at the Ford Women’s NSW Open.
Darquea said: “I messaged Mariajo earlier this week and was like, ‘Hey Mariajo, what’s the key to the course?’ And she was telling me just be safe on the first few holes and then obviously you can be very aggressive on the back nine. So I listened to her and I was very disciplined at the beginning of the round and everything worked out fine.”
It was also a fantastic day for home star Bennett who went bogey-free on day one carding a 66 (-6) which included an eagle at the par-5 17th. The 26-year-old finished T8 in Wollongong last week having led for a large chunk of the tournament. She is now hungrier than ever to claim that elusive maiden LET victory.
“Most definitely,” Bennett said when asked if last week’s close call has boosted the desire to win. “I mean, obviously I had a lot of family and stuff with me last week, so my nan and my uncle, and a few other family members will be here this week as well. So it’ll be quite nice to maybe do a few better than last week.”
Five players sit in a tie for fifth on five-under par following the first round of action. This includes Thai duo Trichat Cheenglab and Sasikarn Somboonsup, France’s Celine Herbin – who had two eagles on day one – Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard and LET Access Series (LETAS) graduate Katharina Muehlbauer from Austria. Ten players round out the top-10 in a tie for tenth on four-under par.
Elsewhere, Japanese player Ayane Morita finished on a high carding our first hole-in-one of the week at the par-3 16th. The WPGA of Australasia player aced the hole with a six-hybrid from 152 yards into wind.
The third round of the Australian Women’s Classic continued tomorrow at 7:30 local time. Follow all the action from tournament on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube.
