With places at the Final Qualifier of Lalla Aicha Q-School at stake, the end of the first day of the Pre-Qualifier Marrakech is complete.
Iceland’s Ragga Kristinsdottir leads at Samanah Golf, Scotland’s Alison Muirhead is top of the leaderboard at Noria Golf, while English amateur Annabell Fuller is in front at Palmerie Rotana.
Here is a more in-depth look at the first day of the Pre-Qualifier Marrakech…
KRISTINSDOTTIR HOLDS THREE-SHOT LEAD AT SAMANAH
Ragga Kristinsdottir produced a 66 (-6) on day one to lead by three shots in the Pre-Qualifier being held at Samanah Golf in Marrakech.
The Icelandic player, who began her first round on the 10th hole, started with a dropped shot on her first hole but then made three birdies in a row on holes 11 through 13.
Kristinsdottir made the second bogey of her round on the 14th but didn’t make any other errors after that rolling in birdies on 16, one, five, six and nine to sit at the top of the leaderboard.
“I hit my driver really well, I hit it pretty close and then I hit my wedges fairly good and then rolled some putts in,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s a great recipe for a round of six-under.
“I did think this course might suit me, the carry numbers for the bunkers are perfectly suited for the bunkers. It leaves fairly short numbers in for me.”
Kristinsdottir has been playing on the LET Access Series (LETAS) in 2023 after attending Q-School last year and is proud of the work she has put in.
She explained: “Playing Q-School last year was a reality check and coming from a college level and transferring to pro is different. That first year on LETAS definitely helped and it shows today. I’m better than I was last year.”
Two players sit in a tie for second place with South Africa’s Cara Gorlei and American Aneka Seumanutafa on three-under-par.
Gorlei produced a round of 69 which included five birdies and two bogeys at Samanah Golf and she was pleased with her day.
“It was good, the wind picked up at the end and it got kind of tough,” said the South African. “There were a couple of long holes coming in, I made some good saves throughout the whole day and made a couple of birdies coming in which was pretty good.
“I played nicely in Australia. I knew my game was pretty close, so I’m glad I got put on this course where it suits me.”
While Seumanutafa also produced a round of three-under which included five birdies and two bogeys on the first day.
“The course played long, it rolled out a lot for me which played to my advantage coming into the greens,” said the Ohio State University graduate. “The greens are faster than what I expected coming to this golf course, I got a lot of putting practice in and the putter was hot today. That was the main thing.
“I heard a lot about the LET and I wanted to try. I have never been overseas before besides going to Australia, but I have never been to Europe or Africa. It’s been an experience so far, but I wanted to try it. I’m only 23 once, so I might as well give it a try.”
Poland’s Dorota Zalewska sits in fourth place on two-under with eight players in a tie for fifth place on one-under-par.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
FULLER GOES BOGEY-FREE TO BE IN FRONT ON DAY ONE IN MOROCCO
Annabell Fuller fired a bogey-free round of 65 (-7) to sit atop the leaderboard at Palmerie Rotana.
The English amateur began her round with a birdie blitz rolling them in on her first three holes before adding another on the seventh.
Fuller continued her form on the back nine adding further birdies on 11, 12 and 18 to seal a round of seven-under in the Pre-Qualifier.
“I’m really happy, I didn’t make any mistakes, so it made the round quite enjoyable,” said Fuller. “I played pretty steady and didn’t have any crazy shots or anything,
“I didn’t expect too much, I just wanted to played solidly. I didn’t expect to go crazy low but it kind of worked out that way. I started with three straight birdies, on the par-fives I reached a couple in two and then two-putted and I hit some shots close too.”
The 21-year-old from Roehampton is still amateur right now but is hoping to have a good week at Lalla Aicha Q-School and secure LET status.
She added: “I’m hoping to get some status here and then hopefully be able to play next year. I was planning on playing everything from next year onwards. I played in the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie – that was my only experience of playing in professional tournaments.”
Canada’s Brigitte Thibault sits in second place on the leaderboard having fired a round of 66 (-6) which included eight birdies and two bogeys.
“I’m pleased,” said Thibault, who turned 25 yesterday. “I feel like I gave a couple of shots away but at the same time, I made great putts. I stayed very patient and I’m just enjoying Africa.
“I had eight birdies and bogeyed two par fives where I had a 6-iron in. That’s a bit annoying but you’ve got to look at the positives and move on.”
Morocco’s Maha Haddioui is in third place on five-under-par having fired a bogey-free round of 67 (-5) at Rotana.
Haddioui, who was the first Moroccan player on the LET said, “It was a good first round. I know the course well. Even though Q-School can be stressful, I came with the mindset that this is a great opportunity.
“There are not many sports where you can mess up the whole year and then have an opportunity at the end of the year to get it all back and start from zero. I see it like that and take every round as they come. I’ve got my sister on the bag, so it’s always a fun round when she’s with me and lots of laughs and very light. That’s exactly what I need for this week.”
Three players sit in a tie for fourth place on four-under-par with five players one shot further back in T7.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
MUIRHEAD LEADS BY TWO AT END OF FIRST DAY AT NORIA GOLF
Scotland’s Alison Muirhead is the one to chase tomorrow in the Pre-Qualifier held at Noria Golf Club after firing a flawless round of 67(-6).
The 25-year-old kicked off her Lalla Aicha Q-School campaign on the 10th tee and rolled in three consecutive birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th.
Muirhead kept the momentum making three birdies on her back nine to finish at the top of the leaderboard on six-under-par.
“I am pleased with my six-under today,” she said. “It’s always enjoyable to have a bogey-free round.
“I would say the first birdie I made on hole 13 calmed my nerves and on hole eight I hit it one foot from the hole, and it almost went in.”
Muirhead is no stranger to LET Q-School having won the 2020 Pre-Qualifiers at La Manga and finishing second at the Final Stage.
She added: “I am really enjoying Noria, the course is in super condition and it is always enjoyable playing in the sun and having family out to watch. I am just really enjoying my golf and taking in the moment one step at a time.”
Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, who turned professional earlier this year and made her debut at the LPGA’s Dana Open, sits in second place on four-under-par.
The 24-year-old got off to a strong start with two birdies in the first five holes before dropping two shots on the seventh, but she soon bounced back with a birdie on the ninth.
Walsh continued with a flawless back nine with birdies on holes 10, 11 and 15 to sign for her 69 at Noria.
“I hit the ball well today, I just got caught in the rough once and made a double from there but having not competed in a couple of weeks that’s probably a little bit of competitive rustiness,” said the Irishwoman.
“I gave myself a lot of chances and I am feeling happy with where my game is at. The course is different to what we normally see with a couple of square greens out there which is a little unusual, but I’ve already enjoyed my time so far and I look forward to the next two days. I am also enjoying that I can be aggressive in places out there.”
Four players sit in a tie for third place with Japan’s Ayako Uehara, Singapore amateur Shannon Tan, China’s Tian Xiaolin and Samantha Bruce of the Philippines on three-under-par.
Panama’s Laura Sluman sits in solo seventh on two-under with seven players in a share of eighth place.
Elsewhere on the course, there were two US holes-in-one with compatriots Lakareber Abe and Shasta Averyhardt both making aces with an 8-irons on the 148-yard 12th hole.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
