Laffar leads in Scotland as Maguire, Woad chase

Stimpmeter · July 25, 2025, 4:30am

Charlotte Laffar fired a superb six-under-par 66 to grab the first-round lead at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links on Thursday.

The Englishwoman, who only returned to the Ladies European Tour (LET) in May after a four-year break to start a family, overcame a bogey at the 1st to reel off seven birdies – including a 20-footer at the 17th – and take the outright lead.

“It was an amazing day,” said Laffar. “I started with a bogey, but sometimes it goes that way. You relax into it. I holed some great putts, and I hit my driver the best I have in a long time. I really took advantage of that.”

Laffar turned in two under after birdies at the 3rd, 4th and 7th, and then caught fire on the back nine with four birdies in five holes from the 10th. A dropped shot at the 15th proved the only blemish coming home, but she bounced back in style with a clutch putt on the 17th.

“Sometimes when you’re having a good day, the bounces go your way,” she added. “I’ve got no pressure at all – golf is a working hobby now. My children are my life, and this is just a bonus.”

Laffar has her husband David on the bag this week, while sons Freddie and Oscar are in Scotland being looked after by family.

The 32-year-old leads by one over a five-way tie for second that includes Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Japan’s Rio Takeda, Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz, England’s Lottie Woad and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol – all on five under par.

Maguire posted a bogey-free 67, highlighted by a hole-out eagle on her opening hole (the par-four 10th) after striking a 9-iron directly into the cup.

“I couldn’t ask for a better start,” she said. “It was perfect conditions for the front nine. I hit the flag again with my pitch on 18, so my approach play was really dialled in.”

This is Maguire’s first week with a new caddie – “He joked he should’ve walked in after the first!” – and she is embracing a return to links conditions. “I grew up playing links in my amateur days. I played Portmarnock last week to prep – this isn’t the firmest yet, but the wind means you still have to be creative.”

Woad, fresh off her maiden professional win at the Women’s Irish Open, impressed with a composed 67 in her professional debut round. The English youngster rolled in six birdies and just one bogey while paired with Nelly Korda and Charley Hull.

“It was pretty stress-free most of the day,” said Woad. “I’m just trying to keep the momentum going. The Majors have given me all the experience I need.”

Iturrioz, a four-time LET winner, made six birdies and just one bogey – a three-putt on the 1st – en route to her 67.

“The conditions were pretty still until 14, and I took advantage of that,” said the Spaniard. “The more of a challenge there is, the more I enjoy it.”

Yubol was steady early on with two birdies and two bogeys before finding her rhythm on the back nine. The Thai player carded five birdies coming in.

“My putter worked today and the ball kept rolling in,” said Yubol. “This is my fourth time here – today was warm, sunny and perfect for golf.”

South Africa’s Paula Reto opened her campaign with a two-under-par 70 to sit just outside the top 20. The 34-year-old made three birdies and a bogey on a day when conditions were relatively calm early on before the wind picked up later in the round.

World No 1 Nelly Korda headlines a group of 10 players tied for seventh on four-under-par, just two strokes behind Laffar in a tightly bunched leaderboard.

Photo:Kate McShane/Getty Images

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