Team USA sit top of the leaderboard after round one of the Women’s PGA Cup at Carden Park, carding a 7-under total of 212 to open up a gap on the rest of the field.
GB&I sit second at 5-over, one shot ahead of South Africa in third. Canada sit in fourth, whilst Sweden and Australia find themselves in fifth and sixth respectively.
Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth set the pace for USA, carding a 3-under 70 to share the individual lead with South Africa’s Tandi Marina McCallum. Eiswerth reached the turn 1-under par and added back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12. A bogey on 14 was quickly answered with a birdie on the following hole.
“It was a little rough to start. I was scrambling and found myself over par after three holes,” she said. “Then I got a feel for the course and started making some putts. I felt better on the greens and kept it going the rest of the way. I hit it well and rolled some putts. It was a good day.
“I made about a 30-footer on 11, which I was grateful found the hole, then hit it tight on 12 for a tap-in.”
Eiswerth, playing in her third Women’s PGA Cup, says the team format sets the week apart from any other tournament.
“This is the best event we have. Our team marks it on the calendar every two years, working to qualify for it. You don’t often get to play team golf and represent your country and Association, so it means a lot to all of us.”
USA’s Sandra Changkija and Kim Paez backed up Eiswerth, both finishing 2-under.
GB&I’s best card of the day came from debutant Sian Evans, who opened with a 1-under 72 as the first group out. She stayed steady all day and closed with a birdie on 18.
“I was nervous this morning, teeing off first for everyone,” she said. “I felt nerves but hit a great shot on the first and played steady all day. I told myself I’d try to hit every green and give myself a chance on every hole. I birdied the last, so I’m very happy about that.”
“The course has a few tricky holes, so the plan [for tomorrow] is to get through those with pars and birdies where I can. There are a couple of short par fours out there. It’s more of the same: keep it steady and hopefully roll in a few putts.”
South Africa’s Tandi Marina-McCallum matched Eiswerth’s 70 with an eagle on the par-5 ninth and birdies on 11, 14 and 15 to help move her team into third on her Women’s PGA Cup debut.
“It was a great day out for me,” she said. “I started off a little nervy, I think. It’s a big event and my first time playing and I definitely didn’t hit the ball as close as I’d like for the first couple of holes.
“I made a really good eagle on the ninth, which kickstarted things to pull back the bogeys I made on the front nine. Then, a very neat scorecard on the back nine with three birdies and no drops. I tried really hard to make one or two more coming in, but overall, really happy with my round today and looking forward to tomorrow.”
To follow the scoring live from the Women’s PGA Cup at Carden Park, click here.
