Gwladys Nocera claims one-shot lead at Xiamen Open
Thursday 8 October 2015 12:45, UK
Gwladys Nocera holds the outright lead after the first round of the Xiamen International Ladies Open after a five-under 67 at Orient Golf and Country Club in China.
The 40-year-old, who has featured four times for Europe in the Solheim Cup, carded four birdies on her front nine before gains at four and nine completed her round. A bogey at the par-four second was her only dropped shot.
"I played good. I didn't hit the ball really well but I hit the fairways and greens and I putted really well. I was very offensive on the putting and it worked," said Nocera.
"It was tough. It was raining a lot and the ball wasn't going anywhere and the greens were pretty slow for the morning. You have to adjust and deal with it. It was tough but I'm glad I shot a good score today."
Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai, Kusuma Meechai and Yeon Mi Choi are one stroke behind Nocera on four-under par.
Despite three-putting at the first, Kongkiatkrai shot three birdies from four holes to fire her way back in contention.
"I hit 15 greens and made some very good up and downs," said Kongkiatkrai. "I holed a good birdie putt of 10 yards so my short game was pretty sharp."
England's Hannah Burke, a recent Tipsport Ladies Masters champion, lies a further shot back on three under alongside Pamela Pretswell of Scotland and Denmark's Daisy Nielson.
