Walsh claims first round lead with bogey-free 69 in Link Series in Durham
Lauren Walsh. Picture: LET Access Series
Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh fired a bogey-free four-under 69 to lead after day one of the Link Series at Ramside Hall.
Playing in her first LET Access Series event and only her second event as a professional after missing the cut in the LPGA’s Dana Open last week, Walsh secured one birdie on the front nine and three on the back to take the lead after round one.
Speaking about her round Walsh said: “It’s always nice to go bogey free, to have four birdies and no bogies it was solid. It was lovely out there and it was nice to get the first-round in.”
Tremendous rain caused play to be suspended at 1:45pm local time but the weather started to turn in our favour and play resumed at around 2pm.
“The course was great; the rain came in and that made it a little bit softer which can help with the irons. It was lovely out there and nice to get the first-round in.
“All parts of my game were working well today, it was balanced. I wasn’t hitting my approach shots very close in the beginning but then I found my rhythm towards the middle.
“Then the rain came in and I made two good ups and downs to save par, this was a turning point and then I started to make some birdies."
The 22-year-old only turned professional one month ago but last week made her debut appearance on the LPGA at the Dana Open, now she’s excited for two weeks closer to home in County Durham.
The Castlewarden star is a two-time Curtis Cup player and was Ireland's top-ranked amateur and ranked 48th in the world before she turned professional, though she did soar as high as 10th.
Now Walsh is keen for her first professional win and feels confident heading into tomorrow.
“Any day you don’t make any bogeys is a good day so hopefully I can replicate that and get all parts of my game in pretty good shape again.
“I will take the confidence that I played well today, and it should be good tomorrow.
“It’s my first LETAS event and it’s been great so far. I’ve met a couple of girls that I’ve seen through college before, so it’s been great to catch up, so a fabulous experience so far.”
Walsh’s second round begins at 12:37pm local time.
Behind Walsh, there is a six-way tie in second position with England’s Emily Price, New Zealand’s Wenyung Keh, Australia’s Stephanie Bunque and Kelsey Bennett and Spain’s Teresa Diez Moliner and Marta Perez all on three-under-par.
