Neumann shines as Stupples struggles

Liselotte Neumann birdied the 18th hole to complete a four-under-par 68 and top a leaderboard dominated by Swedes at the Scandinavian TPC near Malmo.

World number one Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch were tied for second place, one shot back, with Spain’s Marta Prieto on 70.

Another of the most celebrated Swedish players, Helen Alfredsson, was in a group on 71, but there were mixed fortunes for British players, with Karen Stupples notably struggling.

Becky Morgan, from Wales, and Yorkshire’s Georgina Simpson, who went out in 40 but back in 32, were the best of the British players on level-par 72.

But it was a disastrous opening day for Solheim Cup hopeful Stupples.

Tied for 11th in the defence of the Weetabix Women’s British Open at Birkdale last week, Stupples slumped to an 83 this time.

This event at the Barseback Golf Club is the penultimate tournament on a five-week run in Europe for Stupples.

She had hoped to climb into the top seven automatic Solheim Cup selections for Europe’s defence of the trophy at Crooked Stick in Indiana next month.

She presently stands 11th in the Solheim standings and will have a lot of hard work to do just to make the cut this week.

For Neumann, who was joint fifth in the British Open, five birdies helped her Solheim chances.

The 39-year-old played in the first five matches but has missed the last two.

“That’s my goal – to get back in the side and I know this is another important week,” she said.

Sorenstam is also the tournament host, but she shrugged aside the extra responsibilities with a round of four birdies.

“It’s a three-year deal and my aim is to help make the tournament bigger and better,” she said.

“It feels totally different this week when I’m also involved in the running of the event, but I still intend to be very competitive.”