Ana Pelaez from Malaga fired a five-under-par 67 in the Spanish sunshine at Jarama-RACE Golf Club on Friday morning to take a one-stroke lead on eight-under-par in the Comunidad de Madrid Ladies Open.
Playing in her first tournament as an LET Rookie, the 24-year-old birdied the first and fifth holes to hit the turn in 34 before picking up a further birdie at the 10th and an eagle on the 11th for a back-nine of 33 on a clean scorecard.
“I think I had a great day. I started pretty well. I had a birdie and an eagle on the back nine and I think that gave me a boost of energy. My brother and I were vibing. We just hung in there at the end because I missed a couple of putts, so it was a rough ending, but I’m very happy with the score. I like the greens and I feel like I can read them pretty well and I have judged the speed well,” said Pelaez, whose brother, Carlos, is caddying for her.
Pelaez has shown glimpses of her prodigious talent on the LET in the past as an amateur, finishing third in the 2020 Andalucía Open de España and she tied for 11th in the same tournament after turning professional in August last year.
However, due to a tie for 83rd at LET Q-School in December, she has Category 18 status on the LET in 2022, which means limited playing opportunities and she was invited by the Tournament Promoter Deporte & Business to play in this week’s tournament on home soil.
A win this week would offer a winner’s category of membership meaning guaranteed entry into all of the 34 tournaments on the LET schedule, but Pelaez insisted that she thrives under pressure.
“I feel comfortable in that sense and I love it when I able to come back to Spain and play well around everyone here. Right now, I am trying just to have fun to come out here and do my best. It’s important but every single tournament is important now,” she said.
Joint leader overnight, Agathe Sauzon, followed her opening 67 with a two-under-par 70 to occupy second place, alongside Tiia Koivisto after 15 holes.
“My game felt less solid,” said Sauzon. “I missed a few putts and made a few more bogeys, but made some birdies as well. It was good to make another eagle on the same hole as yesterday, the 11th. It was a three-wood to two metres, so a metre closer (from 210 metres), so I’m happy with my game.”
The second round continues in benign conditions with temperature topping 23C today.
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