Magical Kenya Ladies Open R1

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Julia Engström sets the pace
Posted on
December 5, 2019
by
The Editorial Team in ,
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

December 05-08
Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi, Kenya
€300,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4


Julia Engström made a strong start to the season-ending Magical Kenya Ladies Open presented by Safaricom’s M-Pesa, setting the pace with a five under par 67 at Vipingo Ridge on Thursday.

Kenya Ladies Open R1 - Julia Engström sets the pace
Julia Engström. Photo courtesy of the Ladies European Tour

The 18-year-old Swede carded six birdies and a bogey on a sun-kissed opening day to lead by one shot from England’s Liz Young.

First-year professional Esther Henseleit from Germany, who is also looking for a breakthrough victory, shot a 69 to rest alongside last year’s Jabra Ladies Open champion, Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, from France.

Cheyenne Woods from the United States was also in form and fired a two under par 70 to claim outright fifth place.


Engström, the Rookie of the Year last season, birdied the third and fourth holes and cruised to the turn in 34 before adding another gain at the 11th.

She hit a loose drive on the 13th resulting in her sole bogey, but birdied the 14th and 15th to join Young in the lead and then knocked a delightful wedge to within three metres of the target on 18, before making her final birdie putt.

“It was a combination of decent ball-striking and then being good around the greens,” said Engström, who tied for fourth in last week’s Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España after a career-best round of 65 on Saturday.

“The wind started blowing from the fourth hole as a thunderstorm was coming in close by and we could feel that, but it was nice to have some breeze because it was so hot.

“It’s always nice to have a few good tournaments and after last week, I tried to stay calm and not stress out too much.”

Young, who is in her 11th year on the LET, produced five birdies and one bogey early in the day after a scary start.

She said: “At 5.30am, I walked into the bathroom and there was the biggest huntsman spider in the shower, terrifying me. My roommate (Eleanor Givens) was still asleep so I had to be quiet. She has informed me that it’s gone, but I really hope it’s gone down the drain and not into the bedroom.”

She said that it was so hot and sticky at 7am that she had to change her glove on the driving range, however cloud cover moved in just before midday.

Kenya Ladies Open R1 - Julia Engström sets the pace
Esther Henseleit. Photo courtesy of the Ladies European Tour

Henseleit, still in the running to end the season as European No 1 with a victory this weekend, also played in the morning, before the wind picked up.

She carded four birdies and a bogey to be six strokes better than the current order of merit leader, Marianne Skarpnord, who opened with a three over par 75 to lie in equal 48th position.

The stakes are equally high for Vayson de Pradenne, who sits in 75th place on the order of merit. She needs a strong finish to move into the top 70 and retain her LET card this week, but is looking at the bigger picture.

The qualified physiotherapist said: “I’m just trying to enjoy myself. I’m already blessed to be here. You look at the scenery around, you look at the sea. Kenya is a fantastic place and I’m just enjoying myself. I’m not thinking about trying to save the card, because I’m 34, I’ve got something going in my life other than golf. I’m golf passionate, but if I have to stop after this week, it’s fine. Of course I will be sad and frustrated, but I know it’s not going to be the end of my life.


“I know I have to do something this week. I met Nicolas Colsaerts in August and he told me how bad his season was and then he won the French Open, so with my coach, we said, you never know, you might do a Colsaerts this week. If I don’t do a Colsaerts I will at least try to play my best golf to try to secure my playing rights for next year.”

Meanwhile a second tournament victory for Woods, the winner of the 2014 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in Australia, would allow her to re-join the LET next year.


Pos.
Player Name
To Par
R1
1
Julia Engstrom (SWE)
-5
67
2
Liz Young (ENG)
-4
68
3
Esther Henseleit (GER)
-3
69
3
Astrid Vayson De Pradenne (FRA)
-3
69
5
Cheyenne Woods (USA)
-2
70
6
Amy Walsh (AUS)
-1
71
6
Johanna Gustavsson (SWE)
-1
71
6
Isabella Deilert (SWE)
-1
71
6
Sarina Schmidt (GER) (a)
-1
71
6
Sarah Nilsson (SWE)
-1
71
6
Kelsey Macdonald (SCO)
-1
71
6
Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)
-1
71
13
Emma Nilsson (SWE)
Par
72
13
Tvesa Malik (IND)
Par
72
13
Katja Pogacar (SLO)
Par
72
13
Luiza Altmann (BRA)
Par
72
13
Manon De Roey (BEL)
Par
72
13
Michele Thomson (SCO)
Par
72
13
Justine Dreher (FRA)
Par
72
13
Sanna Nuutinen (FIN)
Par
72
21
Gemma Clews (ENG)
1
73
21
Krista Bakker (FIN)
1
73
21
Karolin Lampert (GER)
1
73
21
Beth Allen (USA)
1
73
21
Tonje Daffinrud (NOR)
1
73
21
Aditi Ashok (IND)
1
73
21
Lakareber Abe (USA)
1
73
21
Inci Mehmet (ENG)
1
73
21
Kiran Matharu (ENG)
1
73
21
Verena Gimmy (GER) (a)
1
73
21
Kylie Henry (SCO)
1
73
21
Camille Chevalier (FRA)
1
73
21
Sarah Schober (AUT)
1
73
21
Amy Boulden (WAL)
1
73
21
Christine Wolf (AUT)
1
73
36
Gemma Dryburgh (SCO)
2
74
36
Becky Kay (AUS)
2
74
36
Becky Morgan (WAL)
2
74
36
Astha Madan (IND)
2
74
36
Caroline Rominger (SUI)
2
74
36
Lydia Hall (WAL)
2
74
36
Lejan Lewthwaite (RSA)
2
74
36
Elia Folch (ESP)
2
74
36
Isabelle Boineau (FRA)
2
74
36
Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA)
2
74
36
Maria Palacios (PER)
2
74
36
Tiia Koivisto (FIN)
2
74
48
Charlotte Leathem (ENG)
3
75
48
Valentine Derrey (FRA)
3
75
48
Lynn Carlsson (SWE)
3
75
48
Elina Nummenpaa (FIN)
3
75
48
Dulcie Sverdloff (ENG)
3
75
48
Elena Moosmann (SUI) (a)
3
75
48
Maria Hernandez (ESP)
3
75
48
Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)
3
75
56
Agathe Sauzon (FRA)
4
76
56
Emilie Alonso (FRA)
4
76
56
Rosie Davies (ENG)
4
76
56
Lina Boqvist (SWE)
4
76
56
Jessica Karlsson (SWE)
4
76
56
Filippa Moork (SWE)
4
76
56
Maha Haddioui (MAR)
4
76
56
Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP)
4
76
56
Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP)
4
76
56
Valdis Thora Jonsdottir (ISL)
4
76
56
Vani Kapoor (IND)
4
76
56
Sophie Hausmann (GER)
4
76
68
Felicity Johnson (ENG)
5
77
68
Pasqualle Coffa (NED)
5
77
68
Carly Booth (SCO)
5
77
68
Noora Komulainen (FIN)
5
77
68
Sian Evans (ENG)
5
77
68
Diksha Dagar (IND)
5
77
68
Linda Wessberg (SWE)
5
77
68
Rachel Drummond (ENG)
5
77
76
Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ)
6
78
76
Hayley Davis (ENG)
6
78
76
Annabel Dimmock (ENG)
6
78
76
Florentyna Parker (ENG)
6
78
76
Georgia Iziemgbe Oboh (NGR)
6
78
76
Ana Menendez (MEX)
6
78
76
Noemi Jimenez Martin (ESP)
6
78
76
Laura Fuenfstueck (GER)
6
78
76
Manon Gidali (FRA)
6
78
76
Gabriella Cowley (ENG)
6
78
76
Naomi Wafula (KEN) (a)
6
78
87
Bhavi Shah (KEN)
7
79
87
Olivia Cowan (GER)
7
79
87
Leticia Ras-anderica (GER)
7
79
87
Meghan MacLaren (ENG)
7
79
87
Eleanor Givens (ENG)
7
79
87
Carolin Kauffmann (GER)
7
79
87
Laura Gonzalez Escallon (BEL)
7
79
94
Becky Brewerton (WAL)
8
80
94
Frida Gustafsson Spang (SWE)
8
80
96
Charlotte Thompson (ENG)
9
81
96
Cloe Frankish (ENG)
9
81
98
Emie Peronnin (FRA)
12
84
98
Sideri Vanova (CZE)
12
84
98
Celina Yuan (AUS)
12
84
101
Lauren Taylor (ENG)
14
86
102
Agnes Nyakio (KEN) (a)
15
87
103
Mercy Nyanchama (KEN) (a)
18
90
104
Margaret Njoki (KEN) (a)
21
93
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