- Team Nadaud top the leaderboard on 18-under-par
- Alexandra Swayne and Laura Fünfstück lead the Individual competition after opening rounds of 67 (-6)
Alexandra Swayne and Laura Fünfstück lead the Individual competition at the PIF London Championship with Team Nadaud on top at the end of the first day of action.
In glorious conditions at Centurion Club, Swayne and Fünfstück both fired rounds of 67 (-6) on the first day to share the lead.
It was a good start for Swayne, who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, as she made a birdie on 10 before her only dropped shot of the day on 11.
She rolled in back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 before an eagle on the first and rounded out her day with birdies on seven and eight to be tied for the lead on six-under-par.
“It was really good,” said Swayne. “I have a great team, and we had a lot of fun. I was just seeing shots and hitting them, and I was actually getting quite lucky out there. You always have to be lucky to have a good round, no matter who you are, which golfer, or which golf course you play.
“I’ve learned over the years that I need to be chatty, to have fun. I can’t be in my own thoughts as much as I probably would like to, but having a good caddy on the bag and having a team is always helpful.
“At the end of the day, two scores count. So, if my shot doesn’t really matter, I know in the overall aspect it does, but I’m able to put the team aspect above my own individual play. I’m just having fun with them, and they’re able to cheer you on and be on your side, because it’s not like that normally in individual play. I had a lot of support today.”
Germany’s Fünfstück began her day with an eagle at the first and added a birdie on the second before another on the ninth.
Her only bogey of the round came on 11, but she bounced back with birdies on 12 and 13 and finished in style with another birdie at the last to be tied alongside Swayne.
“Today I had a few moments where I’d probably call myself a little bit lucky,” said the German. “[On the first] I was between hitting driver and three-wood off the tee and then opted for the three-wood.
“I caught it a bit on the pull-y side and basically hit it right through that last tree. We got the perfect bounce there, then had a 7-iron in. It was beautiful. I’d take that three out of three days. I’d say the putt was a bit less than maybe 24 feet or so. Nice putt—just straight in. Loved it.
“There was obviously a lot that went really well last week [at AIGWO], and also a lot that showed what’s breaking down at the moment. If something’s breaking down, then what can I do to fix it? We spent three days with my coach here, which has been really helpful. Long term, that’s going to be important because we’re figuring out what’s key to my game.
“We realised my aim was quite a bit off—and it’s gotten more off over the season. That’s kind of the first part of my game that goes, and it affects everything else. He’s really pushed me the last few days to be a bit uncomfortable on the tee, aiming way further left than I think I should be and that’s helped massively.”
Fünfstück is part of Team Nadaud, who top the Team leaderboard after 18 holes, with a score of 18-under-par.
France’s Nastasia Nadaud – who was the winning Team captain in 2024 – was joined by Fünfstück, as well as Swedish duo Sofie Bringner and Johanna Wrigley.
The quartet didn’t drop a shot all day as a team, and they had a very even round firing nine-under-par on the front and back nine to put themselves in pole position for the Team trophy.
“It was really exciting to come back here as the reigning team champion,” said Nadaud. “I’m really happy with my team after the draft, I knew we could make a lot of birdies. It was a great team effort from everyone.”
Bringner commented: “It was fun, we had a good team, and we were having a lot of fun out there on the golf course. It was nice to hole some putts.”
Wrigley added: “I enjoy the team, I don’t think about my individual score that much when I play these events, I just want to make birdies for the team and just have fun out there.”
Team Boutier is in second place on the leaderboard one shot further back on 17-under-par with Team Alexander and Team Van Dam in T3 on 16-under-par.
Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda are in a share of third place on five-under-par.
Three-time LET winner Tamburlini had eight birdies and three bogeys on her scorecard for her round of 68 (-5).
“It was solid, I had a couple of missed shots,” said Tamburlini. “I made three bogeys, but I had a lot of birdies. I made some really good putts, every putt that had to go in did. I made some really good par putts as well.
“I hit it close, I hit the par-5s in two and I was hitting wedges to three or four-feet. There were lots of good chances and I converted most of them. I had my sister on the bag as well which was good fun, she kept me quite level-headed. It was a good day.”
Eight-time LET winner Ciganda began her round with an eagle on the first before birdies on six and eight, she added further birdies on 11 and 13 before her only bogey on 16.
“I’m pretty happy,” said Ciganda. “Any time you shoot under-par is a good day and I think this golf course gives you a lot of par-5s and you can go low. I played pretty solidly out there; I didn’t get into too much trouble. I had a lot of birdie opportunities and I’m very happy with the score.
“I was talking to my caddie and the last tournaments I haven’t started well, so I thought it was important to start with that eagle on one and then a birdie on the sixth. To be three-under after six holes, I was more present and in a better frame of mind.”
English trio Cara Gainer, Mimi Rhodes and Charlotte Laffar, Sweden’s Bringner, and Italy’s Alessandra Fanali are in a tie for fifth place on four-under-par.
The second round will begin at 9.15 am (local time), leader Team Nadaud will tee off at 11.44 am (local time) at Centurion Club with the Team winners being crowned at the end of the day.
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