(Evian-les-Bains 23 July 2003) Juli Inkster from America, a veteran of 20 years as a professional carded a six under par 66 in the opening round of the $2.1million Evian Masters and shares the lead with Lorena Ochoa from Mexico, who at just 21-years-old and in her rookie year, is arguably the future of women’s world golf and has certainly demonstrated as such here with a sparkling front nine of 29.
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| Inkster – six birdies and an eagle |
“I played really steady out there today,” said the 43-year-old from California who has notched up 28 victories in her career.
“I made one bad swing on the fifth and hit it out of bounds, but I had a lot of birdie opportunities.”
Moodie, who has yet to set any event alight, rejected the claim that her year was up and down as she returned to her best form with a 68.
“Mostly down actually,” quipped the Glaswegian. “I was happy today though and I only had one bogey and apart from that, I hit almost every green and fairway and when I had to hole out from four feet or so, I made them all.”
It was a poor day by Annika Sorenstam’s standards and despite wearing a hat with ‘Ms.59’ embroidered on it, the world number one could only muster a level par 72, tied in 31st place alongside compatriots Carin Koch, Helen Alfredsson and Maria Hjorth and Scotland’s Catriona Matthew.
And ending the day after a visit to some delicately placed ‘Bizzie-Lizzies’ by the side of the 18th green, was England’s Laura Davies, who was cruising on four under par before she reached the par five.
Davies, one of the few players who can reach the final hole in two blows, pulled her long iron approach into the shrubbery, took two blows to extricate her ball, before racking up an unwarranted double bogey seven to fall back to two under par. It was a good day’s work spoiled by some of the abundant flora here.
“It’s a flower bed and I thought that should be ground under repair,” said a very disappointed Davies after her round.
