After a ten year wait, the KPMG Women’s Irish Open has returned to the Ladies European Tour. Ireland has a national Open once again, and what a stage for this fantastic event to take place.
Dromoland Castle is alive with excitement, members have volunteered to marshall the players and fans, local traders set up stalls in the tented village (right in there you’ll find the Her Sport stall, so drop on by!) There is a palpable buzz for women’s golf in Ireland.
The competition began this morning, with the worst of the weather awaiting the morning wave of players. That did not deter the likes of Annabel Dimmock or Klara Spilkova who teed off in the first and second groups of the day respectively. Both players shot a 6-under 65 in their opening round.
These early scores in the wettest of conditions laid the gauntlet down to their fellow competitors.
Round 1 leader is Lina Boqvist who finished the day at 8-under who started her campaign after the rain had dissipated and the sun began to shine on the impressive Clare golf course. The Swede goes into day two, just one shot ahead of Alexandra Swayne (-7).
Leona Maguire is the best of the irish tied for sixth place with an exciting 5 under par round. Maguire got off to a shaky start with a bogey on the 1st and 5th holes before finding her stride on the par 5 sixth hole. Leona bounced back with three straight birdies and finished the day with birdies on 3 of her last 4 holes to card a 5-under 67.
Elsewhere, local favourite Aideen Walsh, a member of Dromoland and Irish international amateur golfer finished at 1 under par with a cool 17 pars and one birdie on her final hole.
The action kicks off tomorrow at 8am and if you’re planning on attending the KPMG Women’s Irish Open here are the times for some of the stars:
Leona Maguire - 8:30am
Alexandra Swayne - 8:40am
Lina Boqvist - 9:00am
Annabel Dimmock - 12:35pm
Klara Spilkoova - 12:45pm
Linn Grant - 12:55pm
Aideen Walsh 1:05pm
