Iceland's Valdis Jonsdottir has carded a career-best eight under par 63 to hold a three-shot lead after round one of the Women’s NSW Open presented by Worrells
The Nordic tyro stormed around the Queanbeyan layout in a performance which included an impressive seven birdies, an eagle on the par-five 3rd, and just a solitary bogey on the testing par four 18th.
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The 29-year-old described the effort as ‘quite easy’ post-round, adding the key was just to try and swing it a little easier.
“My back has been hurting a lot the last five weeks, so I decided this week I am going to try and swing it quite slow.
“I kept the ball in play, I hit a lot of good iron shots into the greens and made a lot of good putts.”
Jonsdottir had little idea an eight-under round was coming, adding she hadn’t made any putts in her practice round or her pre-round warm up.
“In my practice round I struggled a bit, and In my warm up I didn’t make anything, But on the course, I said whatever; I just picked a line and went with it, and it worked out quite well.”
Three shots behind Johnsdottir is France’s Astrid Vayson De Pradenne who carded a five under par 66. Her round included five birdies and only one bogey in an otherwise solid performance.
New South Wales Rebecca Artis is the best placed Australian in a tie for third after carding a tidy four under par 67 in the relatively calm afternoon conditions. Artis was pleased with her effort after the round, saying her recent form had been below average.
“I played solid out there out there today.
“It's been a rough couple of weeks for me so, I was just trying to do the basics right; hit the fairway, hit the middle of the greens, and take the opportunities as they come.
“The putter has been cold the last few weeks, so it was nice to see a few drop today,” she said.