(Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife, April 30 2004) Finland’s Minea Blomqvist and Diana Luna from Italy share the lead on seven under par in the in the €220,000 Tenerife Ladies Open after a day of low scoring around the Buenavista GC.
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| Minea Blomqvist of Finland |
“It was very exciting out there,” said Luna, who is receiving swing tuition from compatriot Federica Dassu.
“My putting was very good today and I felt like I played some very good golf, too. I love the course and it has the most magnificent views and whenever I was tired or hit a bad shot, I just looked around and I felt so much better.
“Having ‘Fedda’ coaching me has given me so much confidence and she’s been fantastic and now I just feel so good on the course. “I’m not predicting anything at the weekend, though. Golf is such a strange game that anything can happen, but I can certainly dream of a victory, we all do!”
Round of the day belonged to Australian Anne-Marie Knight who fired five birdies and two eagles in her eight under par 64 to set the course record. Knight opened with a four over 76 and now puts herself in contention for her second Tour title after the 1999 German Open.
“It was just an amazing round of golf,” said Knight. “Anything can happen on this course and I was trying to go for my lowest round ever, but I ended up three putting the last hole!”
Georgina Simpson was the best of the British contingent after a solid three under 69, which included five birdies and two bogies. And despite the persistent infringement of a local television station camera crew, the 28-year-old from Yorkshire knuckled down and put herself into the picture for the weekend.
“It’s been a very tough day out there,” admitted Simpson, who has been seeing putting doctor Harold Swash who has helped her fulfil her potential on the green.
“The TV crew weren’t very helpful filming one of the local players constantly and as for the pin positions…they were very hard for a Friday – I can’t wait to see what they are going to be like on Sunday!”
And lurking at three under par is Sweden’s Johanna Westerberg, who had a 74, last years winner Elisabeth Esterl, who had a 68 and the 2003 runner up Becky Brewerton from Wales who went one better with a 67.
The cut fell at six over par with the most relieved player in the field being Scottish amateur Lynn Kenny, the first reserve for the GB&I Curtis Cup team who finished on the mark despite incurring a two shot penalty in round one for practice putting during the round.
