Lewthwaite looms after opening round of Ladies Italian Open

May 28, 2021 | Featured, South Africans abroad

Lejan Lewthwaite got off to a good start on Friday in the opening round of the Ladies European Tour’s Ladies Italian Open at Golf Club Margara in Fubine with a four-under-par 68.

She made six birdies and two bogeys to ease into a share of fifth place behind leaders Eleanor Givens of England and French amateur Lucie Machirand, who each carded six-under 66. They led by one from England’s Gabriella Cowley and Italian amateur Alessia Nobilio, while Lewthwaite shared fifth with Lydia Hall of Wales.

Further back in the field was Casandra Hall who signed for an opening one-under 71 for a share of 16th, while Stacy Lee Bregman was on four-under. Swaziland’s Nobuhle Dlamini opened with five-over.

Lewthwaite made three birdies on the front nine with no dropped shots, and three more on the back nine, but with bogeys on 12 and 13.

Malchirand set the early pace posting a six-under-par 66 to take the clubhouse lead while two birdies on the final two holes ensured Givens matched the Frenchwoman.

With seven birdies and one bogey on her card, it was a great start for Malchirand, who was part of Team Europe at the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup and is competing in only her second LET event.

Five players are tied for seventh on three-under-par including last season’s LET Rookie of the Year Stephanie Kyriacou alongside Frida Gustafsson Spang, Ursula Wikstrom, Annelie Sjoholm and Emma Grechi.

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