A birdie blitz from New Zealand's top woman golfer Lynnette Brooky saw her take the first round lead at the Ladies European Tour's (LET) Spanish Open in Castellon today.
Brooky birdied each of her final three holes to record an opening round six-under-par 66 and claim a one-shot lead over
Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera.
Brooky, who won the 1998 Austrian Open as well as back to back French Open titles in 2002 and 2003, carded seven birdies and a solitary bogey on the first hole.
"I just crashed into the trees and I said to my caddie Gerald, 'I've got to stop thinking about my golf swing'. Then I just got over the ball and started to smash it," she told the LET's website.
She produced birdies at the seventh, eighth and ninth holes to make the turn in two-under 34 at the Bernhard Langer-designed Panoramica Golf and Country Club, two hours south of Barcelona.
On the back nine, she picked up some momentum with further birdies at holes 13, 16, 17 and 18.
"I was telling myself to be patient the whole time... I couldn't buy a putt for a while.
"Then I realised that all the putts were going straight so I felt a bit freer. I'm trying not to be too mechanical out there."
Brooky wasn't setting her sights low for the rest of the season after her hot start in just the second tournament of the year.
"My goal is to try and win tournaments, and ultimately to be the European No 1. When I do that I think I'll retire," she said.
French Solheim Cup player Nocera lurks just one shot off the pace after a faultless round in which she hit 18 greens and shot five birdies.
The other New Zealander in the field, Elizabeth McKinnon, carded an opening round three-over 75.
- NZPA
