After a day of opposites when it came to the weather, the players at the Women’s PGA Professional & Assistants’ Championship battled strong winds, heavy rain and glorious sunshine to make it through their first round at Kedleston Park Golf Club in Derbyshire.
The 36-hole event is the flagship tournament of the Oceantee WPGA Series and a well-attended event with this years’ Championship hosting 38 players, including both Women’s PGA Professionals and Assistants in the field.
Lauren Horsford (Horton Park) started out strong scoring three-under through five holes and a birdie, birdie finish saw her complete her round with a five-under-par 69. She leads the Assistants’ Championship by two shots over last year’s Assistants’ champion, Emma Allen (Boundary Lakes) going into round two.
Defending Professional champion, Jessica Smart's (Saunton) trio of birdies on 16, 17 and 18 left her in pole position again in the Professional Championship after a first round five-under-par 69.
Sian Evans’ (Rochester & Cobham) superb eagle, eagle finish saw her join Smart at the top of the Professional Championship leader board on five-under-par going into the second day of competition.
Evans says: “I’ve had quite a steady day - I made a couple of birdies early on the front nine, and then dropped a shot on the par-three 11th, but at the time it was absolutely pouring with rain! I was just thinking - keep steady, stay patient, I had a couple of putts that didn’t quite go in and then I made a couple of good up and downs on holes 15 and 16, and then I thought - right, I’m going to eagle the last two, and I did!”
This is the third year the championship has been played at Kedleston Park and the venue remains popular amongst the players, as Evans explains: “I’ve only played it once before - I played last year and I really enjoyed the course but didn’t quite do it, I came tied seventh, so I had good feelings coming into this week - I love the course.”
Evans has her game plan set for round two: “Same again to be honest, I’ve got a good game plan so I’ll just keep playing how I’m playing and just hopefully hole a few putts!”
Heather MacRae, who has won the Professional Championship a record four times previously, finished with a one-over-par 75 and sits in tied third position alongside Kym Larratt (Kibworth).
Day two of the Women’s PGA Professional & Assistants’ Championship kicks off at 7.30am on Tuesday (July 4) and you can follow the scoring live here.
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