Indian Open: Italian Croce keeps pace with Becky Brewerton as she shoots 69 in first round
Italian Stefania Croce displayed an explosive performance in the opening round of Hero Women’s Indian Open on Friday, as she registered a 69 to share the lead with Becky Brewerton.
Croce snapped up any chance she got at the DLF Golf & Country Club, as she opened the round with a birdie on the first hole. She then parred the next three holes, but failed to handle the
ball well on the greens of par-4 5th hole, tainting her scorecard with a bogey.
The three-day Ladies European Tour (LET) tournament is featuring a fearsome roster packed with almost all the key contenders. The defending champion Swedish Caroline Hedwall is being expected
to steal the show once again.
Welsh Becky Brewerton matched strides with Croce as she fired a 69 to rise to the top of the leaderboard along with her nearest rival.
Croce looked calmer and more composed on the back nine, as she avoided sloppy shorts on most of the holes. She drained back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th hole
and another birdie on the par-4 13th.
Having parred four holes in a row, Croce sank her fifth birdie on the last hole, finishing off the round on a promising note.
Commentators said that the Italian star will have to keep a wary eye on her nearest rival whose game looked more solid than any other contender in the roster.
While the round is yet to be completed, Croce has already put herself in a comfortable position and she can eye a much bigger score in the second round on Saturday.
Croce has been winless all season so far, but she displayed a solid performance in some of the tournaments. Currently standing at the 71st position in Order of Merit, the Italian
golfer still has much work to do before she stand among big names.
Croce displayed a good performance at the 2012 Lalla Meryem Cup where she posted a solid 282 to finished tied for the 14th position on the leaderboard. Shooting a 63 in the third
round increased her chances to find a spot inside the top 10, but she failed to hold her ground in the last round as she carded a 75.
Croce turned professional in 1989—too long a time for her to remain winless. However, she came close to a victory several times, reflecting she is still able to end her winning drought.
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