The newly opened Black Knight Course at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon showed its teeth on Friday morning, when one over par, recorded by five players from as many countries, was the best score. Leading the first round was Emily Kristine Pedersen from Denmark with two under with only two other players to clock an under-par score from 114 in the field. Aditi Ashok wrap up first round as the best placed Indian.
Playing in scorching heat and temperatures of around 30 degree celsius, Becky Morgan (Wales), Malene Jorgensen (Denmark), Ursula Wikstrom (Finland), Katie Burnett (USA) and Nontaya Srisawang (Thailand) set the target.
Morgan, who played to a conservative game plan, said: “I’m very happy. I got off to a very good start and birdied one and three, so I was two under. I didn’t make any more birdies and made three bogeys but I was very steady and I hit 14 greens. I just two putted and went on to the next so it was very consistent.
“It’s very tough. It’s very up and down and it’s quite tight off the tee. The greens are very undulating and firm so it’s hard to get it close to the hole. I thought at the beginning of the week even par would be a pretty good score, just because it’s so tough to get it close so I am really happy with one over par today.”
Everyone impressed by the new @garyplayer course at #dlf even as they try to go low @LETgolf pic.twitter.com/SLoU1AHt3F
— Golf In India (@golfingindian) October 23, 2015
Srisawang, who lost to Laura Davies in a play-off on the previous DLF course in 2010, was equally patient and strategic. She said: “It’s pretty tricky, from tee to green and on the greens. A couple of holes are fun, like 17. I prefer to play this like a par 5. If I made bogey, I felt like I had a par. I hit 5-wood on the tee shot and 54 on the second shot. My ball just hit on the back of the green and I made two putts, so I’m happy with that.
#AditiAshok is clearly the dark horse at the @LETgolf #HWIO15 – she is through 9 holes and one under pic.twitter.com/T7vGDBS0VY
— Golf In India (@golfingindian) October 23, 2015
“The last six holes are pretty tough, very narrow from hole number 14 and you have to hit a good tee shot. I made a bogey there and had a bogey on 17 and 18 because on the last hole I hit the wrong spot on the green. I had to think three-putt, on this course, if you miss the wrong spot on the green.”
With inputs from Ladies European Tour
