As we heard all about the biblical rain storms in Dubai yesterday we awoke here in the Saudi’s capital, Riyadh, to cool temperatures and clear skies as the first round of the ARAMCO Team Series – Riyadh teed off with a first tee time of at 7.10 am off both Tee 1 and Tee 10.
Dubai based 27 year-old Kristyna Napoleaova (Czech Republic) shot a level par 72 and said, ‘I opened up with a birdie on hole 10. After nine holes I was three under par and could easily have been at least five under. My second nine – over the front nine holes, I let it slip and finished level par.’
‘I am now 31st in the Race to Costa del Rankings and will play in the last two events of the LET season in Spain.’
‘If someone had told me at the start of this year that I would win this season, which I did at the Amundi German Masters and qualify for the season ending Race to Costa del Sol I would have been very happy. I am perhaps a bit hard on myself but that is life as a professional sports person.’
.@alisonlee reflects on a stunning course record 61 (-11) 💭
“Today was just one of those days where golf felt really easy. It was just like a dream round.” #RaiseOurGame | #SeeTheImpact pic.twitter.com/6TOTsy93Z3
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) October 27, 2023
‘I pushed too hard at the start of the year and have a few too many highs and lows.’
‘I then had an injury break for 3 months, but rallied well with my debut win – which was somewhat of a surprise.’
Kristyna felt low scores were on the cards this week – with the course set-up and the excellent putting surfaces – and some impressive world class players from especially the LPGA this week in the field. But an 11 under par 61 by Alison Lee is a bit special – the joint lowest score in LET history.
Dubai’s Chiara Noja (Ger) struggled with a lingering shoulder injury – but a final hole eagle three on the home hole kept her spirits up for tomorrow’s second round.
Dubai based Rob Sherman – a regular volunteer for professional tournaments in the UAE and region usually as a TV Volunteer – caddied for Hannah Burke (Eng) – having previously caddied for Hannah in Jeddah, last year. Hannah invited Rob to caddie this week to his pleasant surprise – thinking she may have tried other options which had failed to materialize.
Rob drove from Abu Dhabi on Sunday having officiated at last week’s Eisenhower Trophy and made it a busman’s holiday with some sightseeing in Saudi on the way to Riyadh.
Rob witnessed World No. 1 Lilia Vu (US) who shot a four under 68.
Their team score of Lilia, Hannah, Becky Brewerton and amateur Mohammad Vais (Pak) was -16 and in tied 16th place with the 36-hole team event finishing tomorrow.
The leading Team score is 20 under par by Team Ciganda. The first tee time tomorrow is at 7.20 am.
