Vic Open: Alejandro Canizares leads as Dame Laura Davies impresses
Thursday 6 February 2020 09:27, UK
Alejandro Canizares holds a two-shot lead at the ISPS Handa Vic Open, while Dame Laura Davies made a strong start to the women's event.
Canizares birdied his last three holes to a post a nine-under 63 at 13th Beach Golf Club, where both the men's and women's events are being played over the same courses for equal prize money.
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The Spaniard's score came on the Creek Course - one of two being used this week - with 10 birdies and a sole blemish pulling him clear of Australian quartet Justin Warren, Jake McLeod, Travis Smyth, and Matthew Griffin.
"It was a great round," Canizares said. "I putted really well, I hit the ball well as well, I don't think I missed many greens. It was one of those days where you saw the hole pretty big.
Starting on the back nine, Canizares made a two-putt gain at the tenth and posted three consecutive birdies from the 12th before cancelling out a bogey at the 16th by picking up a shot at the next.
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A first-nine 32 was followed by birdies at the first, third and seventh, with Canizares then draining a 25-footer at the eighth and adding another at the ninth - his final hole - to set the clubhouse target.
Warren's opening-round 65 was the lowest of the day on the Beach Course, with defending champion David Law starting with a four-under 68 and top seed Haotong Li is a further shot behind.
In the women's tournament, sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom posted a bogey-free 65 to sit in a share of the lead alongside Korea's Haeji Kang.
Sweden Linnea Strom is one of three players a shot off the pace in tied-third, while Davies marked her first worldwide appearance since August by mixing eight birdies with two bogeys in an opening-round 67.
"If I make the cut, certainly the first cut and the second cut would be a huge bonus after six months not playing tournament golf," Davies said. "It was nice for me to get out and get a really good round in."
Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow posted a bogey-free 67 on the Beach Course to sit tied-15th, while defending champion Celine Boutier is in the group on level par alongside Mel Reid.
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Watch the ISPS Handa Vic Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 4am on Sky Sports Golf!
