FORMER CHAMPION NOCERA SETS THE PACE IN SCOTLAND

April 21, 2016

Gwladys Nocera from France set the target with a five under par 67 on day one of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire.

Nocera delighted the Scottish fans as she topped the leaderboard after a busy first day at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open – a day that was turned yellow in aid of Beatson Cancer Charity, with many players and spectators wearing yellow to show their support.

The Frenchwomen’s total of five under par after round one was good enough for a one shot lead, ahead of a trio of golfers including Hannah Burke, Becky Morgan and Nanna Koerstz Madsen with a clutch of players one shot further back on three under par.

Norcera, winner of the 2008 Ladies Scottish Open, shot an impressive five birdies on the front nine, with an additional birdie on the 18th. Just one blemish on an otherwise perfect card came at the par four 10th, where the talented Frenchwomen dropped a shot.

Five Scots including Pamela Pretswell are in close contention and within the top 15

She said: The first couple of holes were pretty hard. It was raining and windy so we had the full experience of Scottish weather. But then it got really good and sunny, not too windy, so we had a good back nine. Sometimes the approaches were close and the putting was good. Everything was good at different times.

“It is a difficult course if the wind picks up because there are a lot of bunkers in play off the tee and the greens have a lot of double slopes, so it’s really hard to read the lines but we’ve done a good job.”

In the amateur team competition Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth with playing partner Jamie Govan lead by one shot on 10 under par.