From Sunshine Ladies Tour

French golfer Lucie Malchirand opted for home schooling when she was 13 years old so that she could focus on improving her golf. Her decision was rewarded during the first round of the Standard Bank Ladies Open hosted by The City of Cape Town at Durbanville Golf Club with Malchirand chasing a maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour victory after opening with an eight-under-par 64 to lead by four strokes.

This was the 22-year-old’s first competitive round of golf since the LET Qualifying School held in December.

“It was a really good round. It was my first round since Q-School so I’m really happy with my score today. My putting was amazing.”

Malchirand, who produced her best golf in the middle of her round where she picked up seven shots in a nine-hole stretch, was overjoyed at making an eagle on the par-five sixth hole.

“I reached the green in two and then made an amazing putt. I have worked a lot on my game this winter, and I’m really happy with the result. I think my game is strong. My driving is okay but it really is the short game that I’m most happy with. It was a good day.”

Malchirand said her strategy for Friday’s second round is to stick to her routine.

“I will try to focus on my routine and to keep putting well. I’ll also try to not get angry if I don’t do as well as I did today. But the course is really nice. I really like it. The greens are perfect. Compared to France, it’s really nice to play here. Cape Town is a beautiful city.”

Her closest challenger is Nobuhle Dlamini who opened with a round of five-under-par 67 followed by South Africa’s Cara Ford and Iceland’s Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir on four-under par 68.

Defending champion Gabrielle Venter finished her round with a score of 73.