Williams flies the flag
26/09/2013
Lucy Williams flew the flag for The PGA during the first round of the inaugural WPGA International Challenge at Stoke By Nayland.
Williams (above), who captured the Glenmuir Women’s PGA Championship in June, was one of the 20 PGA pros and assistants in the 120-strong international field vying for a portion of the €25,000 prize fund.
And she led the way by negotiating the Gainsborough course at the Suffolk resort in a level par round of 72.
Two birdies in the first five holes suggested the 24-year-old from Mid-Herts Golf Club was set to be among the early pacesetters in the chase for the €4,000 winner’s cheque.
Her bright start, however, was tempered by bogeys at the par four sixth and 13th and another at the par five 16th that cancelled out a birdie on the 512 yard 14th.
All of which left her four shots adrift of joint-leaders Kelsey Macdonald and Hannah Ralph and two ahead of 19-year-old Katie Rule, her nearest challenger from The PGA contingent.
Rule (above), an assistant at St Enodoc Golf Club, Cornwall, who qualified for the final round of the Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship at Coventry Golf Club last month, was level at the turn.
Two bogeys on the inward nine, however, left her two-over-par on 74, one ahead of former Solheim cup winning captain and US open champion Alison Nicholas who was making a rare competitive appearance.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Macdonald was left to rue a bogey at the last that cost her outright leadership of the 54-hole event that is supported by Stoke By Nayland Hotel Golf and Spa.
By contrast, England’s Ralph had a flawless round, the highlight of which was an eagle at the par five 455 yard fourth.
Hot on their heels on three-under-par are Amy Boulden of Wales, a member of the victorious 2012 Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team who is making her professional debut, and Spain’s Mireia Prat, the leading overseas player.
In addition to England, Scotland and Wales, 19 countries have representatives in the tournament which is the only Ladies European Tour Access (LETAS) event scheduled in the United Kingdom.
LETAS is the official the official feeder tour to the Ladies European Tour and the top five in the rankings at the end of the season will be offered membership.
