Photo: DR

"I played well today, I was not really good at the drive, but I hit the fairways and the greens in regulation and I was very offensive on the putting, it worked" ,.“It was difficult to read the slopes, it was raining a lot and the greens which were quite slow in the morning. but I'm happy with a good score today. "  said Nocera.

The Frenchwoman had already tasted success in China two years ago when she won the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open. She has won 14 tournaments in 11 different countries and will do anything for a second title in China after finishing tied at XIAMEN INTERNATIONAL LADIES OPEN last year.

"It's good to be back in Xiamen"said Gwladys Nocera, 40, from Moulins, France. “The main key to winning will be reading the greens: some of them are steep and different from the European greens, even faster, so it's hard to find the right speed. "

This year the tournament has been increased from three to four rounds to reflect the format planned for the Olympic Games next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  “This week there are four rounds and I have to stay patient and focus on each shot to have a chance to get into the final round. ".

The Frenchwoman plays the first two rounds alongside the Danish Nicole Broch Larsen, recently winner in Sweden, she had made a strong impression during the last major of the season, The Evian Championship.

Suddenly we find the Thai pair, Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai and Kusuma Meechai and the South Korean Choi Yeon.

Three other French women are accompanying Gwladys Nocera in China, Valentine Derrey tied for 12th, Isabelle Boineau and Alexandra Vilatte are further in the ranking.

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