Lydia Ko and Pajaree Anannarukarn signed 64 (-8) shots in the opening round of the Aramco Saudi Ladies International and share the co-leadership of the tournament at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. The morning day enjoyed a much more benevolent climate than the afternoon one and the best results came out of this first one.
Lydia Ko, results
World number one Ko had a flawless day as she made eight birdies for a bogey-free day. “I knew that between today and tomorrow, this first day was the one that I had to take advantage of because the conditions were going to be much better,” said the 2021 champion.
The Thai Anannarukarn also signed an excellent start to the week in her first visit to the Saudi Royal Greens. An eagle, eight birdies and two bogeys, for the winner of the ISPS Handa World Invitational 2021, a PGA Tour tournament.
“I started very well, with a long putt and I made four birdies in a row and then I kept the momentum,” said the Asian. The Spanish Carlota Ciganda and Carmen Alonso shot 72 shots and are even. Patricia Sanz Barrio did 76, like Ana Peláez.
Marta Sanz Barrio, went to 77. She took part in the women’s golf tournament of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, held from 17 to 20 August at the golf course of the Reserva de Marapendi, in the Barra da Tijuca area. Among the favorites to win, she starts the competition below expectations with 69 strokes (-2 on par) after the first round of the tournament, which places her in eleventh place.
The same scenario is repeated in the second round, with the Ko that ranks twenty-second, five strokes away from the medals area. In the last two days she scores a decisive recovery, finishing the race in second place and thus winning the silver medal.
She also came close to success at the following Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where on August 7 she won the bronze medal on the field of the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, closing the competition with 268 strokes, 16 under par.
Late after the first two laps, closed 8 strokes from Nelly Korda who will win the gold, in the final two laps she recovers many positions, closes just one stroke away from the winner and is paired with the landlady Mone Inami, who prevails in the final playoff and wins the silver.
