Swede on course for Irish double

Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson is on course for an Irish double by taking the first round lead at the BT Ladies Open at Warrenpoint GC in Co Down.

Gustafson, who won the Ladies Irish Open in June at Killarney, fired a six-under-par 66, which included seven birdies and a solitary bogey and also remains on course for back-to-back victories after winning last week in Stockholm at the HP Open.

The 29-year-old has won three times in her last five visits in Europe and has targeted the order of merit title as one of her remaining goals for the year.

Victory this week would go a long way to securing the title she last won in 2000.

“I putted really well, too,” said Gustafson. “I holed a couple of long ones, which always helps. The course is actually a little too tight for me, so I hit a lot of two irons to keep it in play and I only really need the driver here seven or eight times.

“It’s been a strange season, I have been playing a lot better than my scores suggested and I am glad it’s all coming together now.”