(Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland – 3rd August 2012)
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Scotland’s Catriona Matthew fed off the memory of her Solheim Cup triumph at Killeen Castle to open up a one shot lead after the opening round of the Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland.
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The 42-year-old fired a five-under-par 67 in fine but windy conditions, which included seven birdies in her last eight holes, to sit atop of the leaderboard ahead of Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg.
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“It was very strange, actually,” said Matthew, the World No.27. “I played very steadily on the front nine and then just a silly three-putt on 18 for a bogey and I was out in one over. I made a good par on the first and then had seven birdies on the next eight holes and one bogey so kind of a strange nine but I’ll take it. It’s always nice when you see the putts dropping in.”
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She admitted that she took inspiration from being back at the scene of one of the biggest highlights of her career last September, when she played a key role in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory, going undefeated with a memorable 6 and 5 win over Paula Creamer in the opening singles.
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Matthew tied for sixth at the Ladies Irish Open at the same venue in 2011 and she commented: “It’s playing a little longer than it did in the Irish Open but probably similar to how it did in The Solheim, because it was wetter later in the year then. It’s similar to how it played then.”
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England’s Felicity Johnson posted a 69 to sit two shots off the pace. A group of five players are a shot further back on two-under-par including the leading Australian Rachel Bailey. She is joined by the four-time Irish Open champion Swedes Sophie Gustafson and Caroline Westrup, England’s Elizabeth Bennett and Germany’s Anja Monke.
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Scotland’s Carly Booth and English amateur Charley Hull ended a stroke further back on one under par, with the defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway in a group on 72.
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Nikki Garrett is the next best placed Australian at one-over-par and shares 16th position. Alison Whitaker and Lindsey Wright are a further shot back and tied for 26th, while Stacey Keating (75) shares 43rd position. The remaining Australian have their work cut out to make the final round, Rebecca Artis (T78), Karen Lunn (T92), Stephanie Na (T92), Frances Bondad (T108), Bree Arthur (T113) and Sarah Kemp (T122).
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Click here for Round 1 Leaderboard.
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