Sara Kouskova made eight birdies in a course record 64 on Thursday at Magenta Shores Country Club to lead after round one of the Australian Women's Classic.
Taking advantage of easier morning scoring conditions, Kouskova’s 64 surpassed the course record of 65 established by Mariajo Uribe and Justice Bosio, and earned the two-time Ladies European Tour winner a two-stroke lead.
After rounding the turn at 4-under, Kouskova was greeted by the sight of some homemade Czech flags and her “Australian Grandad”, Ian Smith, at the halfway mark,
“I think that was after nine holes and we saw that, it just warms your heart and it’s really sweet,” Kouskova said of her supporters that were first introduced as billets when playing in Coffs Harbour two years ago.
Running down and passing early leader Momoka Kobori, Kouskova sits ahead of the Kiwi, whose brother Kazuma is tied for the lead on the other side of the ditch at the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship, Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea and local hope Kelsey Bennett on 6-under.
Largely paying credit to a change in approach, Kouskova’s reputation as a top ball-striker matched with almost no wind and a beautifully presented layout was a recipe for low scoring.
“Honestly, it was such a steady round today,” said Kouskova.
“I think I struggled mentally last week a little bit and kind of going towards the season I was very excited, but then it just felt, I don’t know, it wasn’t there in my mind correctly.
“We need to work more on the mindset, on sticking to the process more, not thinking about results or anything.
“Today was a day that I actually took a little bit more care about the mental prep and I cannot believe how well it worked. I’m really, really happy about how disciplined we were on the course.”
There were similarities in Round 1 for Kobori, who has father Ryozo following along this week as her familial connection while mental strength was key component in her hot start of six birdies across the opening nine holes.
“I was basically just trying to keep it rolling, trying not to just put a brake on myself, just take it one shot a time,” Kobori, who closed her day with a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-5 ninth, said.
“I’m pretty happy with how I did. It was kind of just trying to keep it rolling.
“I think I have to be a bit more wary of my tendencies of putting pressure on myself because it’s easy, but I think it’s important to kind of remember that just because it is easy, you’ve still got to get the job done.
“And this course is by no means an easy golf course. So very easy to get sucked into those pins and make some big numbers.”
Another of the leading pack, and the top Australian on day one, Bennett had her own support crew in tow, including her beloved Nan, as she finished with a spark, powered by an eagle at the downhill par-5 17th.
Eighth last week in her quasi-hometown event at Wollongong, Bennett was bogey-free as she works with coach John Serhan on her mission to continually professionalise her approach.
“Just the same stuff that I’ve been working on with my coach, just becoming more professional, working a lot harder, just being smarter really around the golf course,” Bennett said when asked what had led to her early season form.
“It’s just given me a bit of confidence. I don’t know, really, it’s just going good.”
Playing two events at home before starting her LET season in Saudi Arabia, Bennett believes the additional golf in a variety of conditions will hold her in good stead this week, and in the coming fortnight at the women’s Australian Open and Australian WPGA Championship.
“I loved playing Vic Open and Rosebud leading into it, definitely,” said Bennett.
“Obviously Rosebud, against the men, and the conditions of Vic Open make it really, really tough. So you’ve got to shoot some scores around those events.”
Rounding out the leading pack is Darquea, who arrives after a solid week in Wollongong and armed with some advice from a successful fellow South American. The Ecuadorian opened her week with four straight birdies before mixing two bogeys and another shot against par in her front nine of 33.
“I messaged Mariajo earlier this week and obviously I was like, ‘Hey Mariajo, what’s the key to the course?’,” Darquea said of the last LET winner at Magenta Shores.
“She was telling me just be safe on the first few holes and then obviously you can be very aggressive on the back nine. So I listened to her and I was very disciplined at the beginning of the round and everything worked out fine.”
Trailing the trio on 6-under by one are Thais Sasikarn Somboonsup and Trichat Cheenglab, Dane Sofie Kibsgaard, Austrian Katharina Muehlbauer and France’s Celine Herbin, who had two eagles in the space of seven holes.
Australians Amelia Mehmet-Grohn and Claire Shin are part of a 10-way tie for 10th on 4-under that also includes Kiwi Amelia Garvey, former champion, Meghan Maclaren and day one hole-in-one hero Ayane Morita.
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