Nocera sets course record

Gwladys Nocera set the pace with a course record eight-under-par 64 before play was suspended during the first round of the KLM Ladies Open at Eindhovensche Golf in Holland.

Thunder and lightning led to the suspension of tournament play at 4.20pm with the 60 players in the afternoon matches still to complete their first rounds.

Frenchwoman Nocera, a three-time Ladies European Tour champion, carded six birdies and an eagle in hot, airless conditions to take the clubhouse lead.

Laura Tereby from the United States had reached six-under-par after 15 holes and lay in second position.

France’s Ludivine Kreutz and 19-year-old Dutch amateur Christer Boeljon both carded five-under-par 67s and held joint third position. South Africa’s Ashleigh Simon fired a 68 to hold fifth place.

Nocera, who last won almost a year ago in Spain, was defeated by England’s Lisa Hall in an eight-hole play-off at the Northern Ireland Ladies Open on Sunday.

“I am hitting the ball well but there is still room for improvement,” she said. “I think I can hit the ball further with my drives.”

Nocera set off from the 10th tee and birdied holes 12, 17 and 18 on her front nine, reaching the turn in three-under 33. She then fired further birdies at the first, second and eighth holes before sealing her perfect round with an eagle at the par-five ninth, which was her final hole of the day.

A further four players were on three-under-par: England’s Georgina Simpson, Ireland’s Rebecca Coakley and Germany’s Anja Monke all carded 69, while Dutch amateur Benedicte Toumpsin was three-under-par after 16 holes.

Simpson, who set out at 8.30am, said: “I have started putting which has made the difference. I have been hitting it well for a few weeks now but I have finally started scoring.

“It’s been quite frustrating at times this year but I got off to a good start this morning and I felt in control. I always seem to play well here.”