Pilgrim progresses in Ladies Swiss Open

Wales’ Eleanor Pilgrim shot a four-under-par 68 to earn a share of the lead at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open.

Australia’s Nikki Garrett, Germany’s Bettina Hauert and Switzerland’s Frederique Seeholzer are the other players at the top of the leaderboard at Golf Gerre Losone, leading by a stroke from a group which includes England’s Lora Fairclough.

Newport 30-year-old Pilgrim, who has yet to win on the Ladies European Tour, set the target at four under after going out early in wet conditions.

She began the day with a bogey at her first hole but posted five birdies, with three on her front nine and two on her back nine.

“I just went out and played steady golf. I left a couple out there as well. I hit about 16 greens so I was always there with a shot,” said Pilgrim, who finished joint seventh in this tournament last year.

“It was horrible weather to start with but it got much better later on. I think this is one of the best courses we play all year.

“I love the scenery, it’s a great course and the greens are lovely.”

Garrett, a 23-year-old from New South Wales, is looking for a third victory in as many weeks after previously winning in Spain and Tenerife.

She posted four birdies, two bogeys and holed a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-five third, but after her round revealed she was still recovering from illness.

“I’m at the lethargic stage where I’ve got no energy so I didn’t try to out-hit myself. I just kept within myself and found some fairways,” said Garrett, who is bidding to follow Marie-Laure de Lorenzi in 1989 as the only other player in the tour’s history to win three consecutive events.

Defending champion Gwladys Nocera returned a 73 for a share of 31st.