Garcia leads SA in Germany

Ekurhuleni’s Nicole Garcia took advantage of the high temperatures at Wörthsee Golf Club near Munich to fire a superb four-under-par 68 to vault inside the top 12 at the Ladies German Open on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Sunshine Ladies Tour regular spearheads the South African challenge at the Ladies European Tour event and will start the second round just four off the pace from England’s Charley Hull, Scotland’s Kylie Walker and Yu Yang Zhang from China, who shared the first round lead,

Reigning Zambia Ladies Open Stacy Bregman notched three birdies for two under 70 to tie for 31^st, Connie Chen finished a further stroke back and Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies Houghton champ Kim Williams carded an even par 72 for a share of 66^th. Swaziland’s Nobuhle Dlamini and Bonita Bredenhann from Namibia both returned 73s.

Garcia showed no signs of the nerves that has plagued her in earlier starts this season.

The Ladies European Tour rookie quickly countered a bogey at the par-three 11^th with a birdie at the 14^th and dipped into red numbers before the turn with a birdie at the par-four 18^th. She drained an eagle putt at the par-five first to go three under and birdied the ninth after seven straight pars.

“I’ve had some good rounds over the last couple weeks, so hopefully this means I am getting over my tournament jitters,” Garcia said.

PHOTO – Sunshine Ladies Tour rookie, Nicole Garcia; credit Petri Oeschger.