Gwladys Nocera Photo credit TPlassais / swing-feminin

Contested in bright sunshine, the first round of the Lacoste Ladies Open in France offered a nice match between three French women. Gwladys Nocera, who left early in the morning with the double title holder Azahara Muñoz and the 15th world champion Cristie Kerr, delivered an exemplary game. Unlike the Spanish (70), seventh at -2, and the American (74), 6th at +4, the Habs made no mistakes, and posted five birdies to sign a remarkable 65 ( -5). “I started the day a little shyly, I was a bit inside. Then I said to myself "wait, you're here to win the tournament, so do the whole thing! Of course, winning does not only depend on me, but at least I have to give myself the means to do so by playing my best. I managed to get into top gear, and I got in a couple of putts that made me feel good, ”said the player, who has won 14 career European Ladies races, who are still chasing a first success in its national open.

With a Frenchwoman already in mind at the clubhouse, the Basque public enjoyed the performances of Céline Herbin and Marion Ricordeau during the afternoon. The first, who made five birdies against a single bogey, signed a 66 (-4) card and grabbed second place with a stroke of Nocera. "It's a very good score to start the tournament," she says. “My long game was excellent since I took the 18 greens in regulation. I took in a few putts which allowed me to do -4. It could have been better, but I am already very satisfied with my day! For her part, MarionRicordeau, who was very successful in putting, pointed to -6 three holes from the end, but ended her game with three consecutive bogeys. La Picarde therefore had to settle for a 67 (-3) card, and third place two strokes from her compatriot. “Being -6 after 15 holes was a bit unexpected given the way I played,” she relativizes. "

I managed to put myself not too far from the flags when I had an iron in my hands, and I took in a lot of putts. On the other hand, driving was very poor… So even if I am disappointed to finish like this, -3 is a very good score. "

Finally, the day was illuminated by the feat of Fiona Puyo at hole number 12. On this par 3, the Basque adopted has indeed signed an extremely rare hole-in-one! "It was a 129-meter hit, and I hit an 8-iron. I didn't see the ball go in because it's an uphill hole, but I heard the audience cheering and I understood that the ball came back in with the backspin, "said Puyo, who had the first hole-in-one of his professional career.

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