Lejan Lewthwaite was the best-placed South African on Thursday after the first round of the women’s section of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational at Galgorm Castle and Massereene in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland with her two-under-par 71.
Playing her first round at Galgorm Castle, she made five birdies and three bogeys to end the first round in a share of 19th place, five strokes behind the leaders Chella Choi of Korea, Jennifer Kupcho of the United States and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh. They carded seven-under-par 66s, all at Massereene. They were one shot clear of Emma Talley of the United States.
Stacy Bregman carded a level-par 72 at Massereene to be in a share of 50th, while Nobuhle Dlamini of Swaziland was also level-par on 73 after her opener at Galgorm Castle. Lee-Anne Pace was one outside the projected cut line on one-over at Massereene, together with Paula Reto who played her round at Galgorm Castle. Nicole Garcia signed for a three-over at Massereene.
