SA Girls experience real links golf in the UK

Bertine Strauss had a good start on day one of the Girls British Open Amateur. Despite a triple drop when she lost her first ball on the 16th and put her provisional off the fairway, she played good solid golf to finish on + 5 (77). Connie Chen had a slow start on the first nine turning in 42 but came back strongly to finish 79. She was not comfortable with her putting and had a few three putt greens. “She is striking the ball solidly and has the opportunity to score well if she gets her putting confidence back – thinks she found the problem on the practice green after golf,” reports Manager Erica Lefson.

“Yushira missed a few fairways and paid the cost. She had to play a few provisionals but was often in a position to play her original – but from difficult places. The wind comes across the course and one has to trust aiming out into the rough and knowing that the ball will come back.”

Describing the links course, Erica added, “I am not going to tell how many balls were lost on the practice day – it goes like this – miss the fairway and play another shot. Off the fairway is typical English flora – heather and brambles. I picked berries on regular basis while looking for balls. But the brambles and heather make a hedge cover over the ground so it is not easy to get to the ground to even see the ball.”

“One needs to hit the ball straight ALL the time or the score will reflect missed fairways. I feel that this will be a true test of who is hitting the ball straightest.”

Retired golf professional’s daughter Noemi Jimenez from Malaga on the Costa del Sol was the overnight leader. With the help of five birdies, 15-year-old Noemi returned a two-under-par 70 with halves of 36 (level) and 34 (two under) to head the field.