Norway’s Lund says SA is ‘something else’ as she leads Platinum Ladies Open

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Norway’s Karoline Lund produced her lowest round as a professional in the first round of the Platinum Ladies Open with a seven-under-par 64 on the par-71 Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate course on Wednesday, earning herself a one-shot lead over Nikki Hofstede from The Netherlands and England’s Hayley Davis.

The 26-year-old Lund, who said her practice round filled her with confidence for the challenge of this week, made five birdies and an eagle without dropping a single shot during the first round.

The field has been given an added incentive this week as the prize money has been increased by a further R200 000 to R1.2 million.

“I don’t want to say it’s easy, but today it felt easy. I hit a lot of fairways and greens and made a few putts as well, so it’s one of those good days. I went a little bit right of the green on the 13th hole and chipped in for eagle which was nice. The course is in great condition even though there has been a lot of rain. It just felt easy.”

Lund started playing golf with her father at the age of 11 at the golf course next to their vacation home in Sweden during family holidays. But she has been blown away by the quality of golf courses in South Africa.
“The courses in South Africa are a lot better for sure as we don’t really have the weather in Norway. We only have about six or seven months to play, so you can’t really compare the courses. South Africa is just something else.”

Lund said her strategy for the second round is “to just to play as aggressive as I did today and to stay in the process, taking one shot at a time and just have fun”.

South Africa’s Casandra Alexander, winner of this year’s Jabra Ladies Classic in February, and veteran golfer Tandi McCallum are two shots off the lead on five under par.

SCORES

64 – Karoline Lund (NOR)
65 – Nikki Hofstede (NED), Hayley Davis (ENG)
66 – Mayka Hoogeboom (NED), Tandi McCallum, Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR), Elina Nummenpaa (FIN), Casandra Alexander
67 – Gabrielle Venter, Lora Assad
68 – Bonita Bredenhann (NAM), Madelene Stavnar (NOR), Romy Meekers (NED), Kaiyuree Moodley
69 – Tiffany Arafi (SUI), Vidhatri Urs (IND), Esme Hamilton (ENG), Demi Flanagan, Cara Ford, Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL), Carolin Kauffmann (GER), Emma Grechi (FRA), Celina Sattelkau (GER), Nadia van der Westhuizen
70 – Selena Costabile (CAN), Laura Beveridge (SCO), Lindi Coetzee, Anais Meyssonnier (FRA), Fernanda Lira (MEX), Rosie Belsham (ENG), Cara Gorlei, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ), Lorna McClymont (SCO), Chantal Dueringer (AUT), Emie Peronnin (FRA), Danielle du Toit
71 – Zethu Myeki, Corinne Viden (SWE), Lenanda van der Watt, Emma Falcher (FRA), Kiera Floyd, Larissa Du Preez, Anne-Charlotte Mora (FRA), Ana Dawson (IMN)
72 – Jane Turner (SCO), Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP), Isabella van Rooyen, Tiia Koivisto (FIN), Olivia Mehaffey (NIR), Louisa Carlbom (SWE), Michelle Forsland (NOR), Hannah Karg (GER), Clara Pietri (SUI), Stacy Bregman, Thalia Martin (ENG), Lucie Malchirand (FRA)
73 – Hanna Tauber (GER), Symone Henriques, Bronwyn Doeg, Lee-Anne Pace, Nina Pegova (WHT)
74 – Judith van der Voort (NED), Kelsey Nicholas, Ananya Garg (IND), Pasqualle Coffa (NED), Canice Screene (IRL), Ivanna Samu
75 – Chante van Zyl, Kim de Klerk, Jess Baker (BRI), Kajal Mistry
76 – Rhea Purvi (IND), Hannah Arnold (USA), Katherine Hollern (USA)
77 – Leontine Petit (FRA), Karishma Govind (IND), Paris Hilinski (USA), Nayanika Sanga (IND)
78 – Carey Dodds, Molly Lumley (ENG), Shawnelle de Lange, Jessica Bailey (ENG)
79 – Claire Minter (ZIM), Brittney-Fay Berger, Linn Wiberg (SWE)
88 – Amy Fletcher