Sweden’s Julia Engstrom shot an impeccable round of 67 on the first day of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open to emerge overnight leader with a one-shot lead.
Teeing off from the first tee in the afternoon, Julia carded a front nine total of 34 thanks to consecutive birdies at the par-4 third and the par-3 fourth; and having not dropped a shot.
On the back nine, she carded a total of 33 courtesy of birdies at the par-5 11th; the par-4, 14th; the par-5 15th and the par-4 18th. She holed the only bogey of the round at the par-4, 13th.
Currently ranked 40th on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, Julia comes to the Magical Kenya Ladies Open tournament with the wind in her sails having finished joint fourth – just four shots off the winner – at the Women’s Spanish Open that was held last week.
Julia’s efforts were just enough to dislodge England’s Liz Young off the lead. Liz opened up her Vipingo challenge with a superb round of 68 to emerge Clubhouse Leader at the end of the morning tee off. Teeing off from the first, alongside Emilie Alonso from France, she carded a first nine total of 35 courtesy of a couple of birdies at the par-3, fourth and the par-4 seventh; having holed the only bogey of the round at the par-3, eighth.
Liz had a better back nine, holing three birdies – at the par-5 11th, the par-5 15th and the par-3 17th – to card a back nine total of 33. With 14 top-ten finishes in 153 tournaments, she came to the tournament on the back of a 16th place finish at the Women’s Spanish Open.
Meanwhile, USA’s Cheyenne Woods, finished the round in solitary fifth with a 2-under par 70 score leaving her in close contention of the lead going into the second round.
Kenya’s Naomi Wafula was the top lady golfer after the round with a 6-over 78 score -one shot ahead of Nyali Golf Club’s Bhavi Shah. The trio of Agnes Nyakio, Mercy Nyanchama and Margaret Njoki finished their round with 15-over par, 17-over par and 21-over par scores.