South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace fired an opening 69 at the Golfpark Gut Häusern near Munich to finish within striking distance of the pacesetters topping a crowded first round leaderboard at the UniCredit Ladies German Open, presented by Audi, on Thursday.
Chasing her second victory this season after winning the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open earlier this month, Pace collected two birdies apiece on each nine, off by a lone bogey at the par-five 11th for a three under 69 and a share of 10th alongside Australian Rebecca Artis, Sweden’s Linda Wessberg and Marjet van der Graaff from the Netherlands.
The quartet finished two shots off the pace from the first round leaders, led by the formidable rookie Charley Hull.
The 17-year-old English player heads the logjam in pole position with 2011 champion Diana Luna from Italy, Denmark’s Line Vedel, Stefanie Michl from Austria and Celine Herbin from France.
South Africa veteran Laurette Maritz also enjoyed a solid start on an overcast day in Munich, carding an opening 70 to join a group of 20 players on two under.
The occasional showers didn’t throw Tandi Cuningham off her game, either, and the former SA Womens Open champion opened her campaign in Germany with a 71.
However, compatriots Ashleigh Simon, Stacy Lee Bregman and Connie Chen left themselves with some work to do to survive the cut after carding respective rounds of 73, 74 and 76.
While last year’s winner Anne-Lise Caudal carded a solid opening 70, Laura Davies – the champion in 2010 – dropped five shots over the back nine to finish on one-over-par 73.
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