(Costa da Caparica, Portugal May 7 2004) Cecilia Ekelundh from Sweden endured a round of contrasting halves as she carved out a one shot lead after the first round of the €300,000 Ladies Open of Portugal, sponsored by Lancia, at Aroeira 1 GC on Portugal’s Costa Azul.
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| Anne-Marie Knight |
“This course is much like my home course at Solvesborg, so it doesn’t seem like it’s so narrow for me which I think is an advantage,” she added.
“I only had ten putts on the back nine and if I can keep it going, I know I will have a good chance to win. That’s my main goal and now I have put myself into position, I will work from there. I come out here each week thinking I can win and it’s always something I have wanted to do.”
Knight, who has had 15 top tens in her career, was steadier through her round carding six birdies and two bogeys to take second place and in prime position to add to her only win on Tour, the 1999 stilwerk German Open.
“My putter had eyes on it today, all the good shots I hit into the greens I took advantage of,” said Knight, who finished 5th at the season opening ANZ Ladies Masters and tied for 10th last week in Tenerife.
“I’m pleased with the start of my year. Since I won in Germany I expected that I would go onto bigger things, but I seemed to go backwards. But I made a few changes after that and I don’t set myself any goals really and just take things as they come and that way and I enjoy myself out on the course now.”
