Jessica Korda made a flying start to the $1million Aramco Team Series Sotogrande with an 11-under-par 61 to light up the first day at La Reserva Club de Sotogrande.
On her first visit to Spain, the 29-year-old American went on an amazing scoring spree as she made no fewer than three eagles in smashing the ladies’ course record – and equalling the all-time low round on the Ladies European Tour.
She raced to seven-under inside seven holes with the help of eagles at the par-5 second and sixth holes.
The birdies were flowing too and the only time she ever came under serious pressure was on the eighth where she visited the water off the tee. But Korda escaped with a bogey before normal service was resumed on the back nine as she collected further gains at the 10th, 11th and 13th.
To cap a stunning round she made a third eagle, rolling home a 15–foot putt at the 16th before closing out with pars to beat the previous course best by four shots.
It equalled the lowest 18-hole score of Korda’s professional career and her overnight lead is five strokes from Manon De Roey and Pia Babnik.
The Korda quartet, featuring Tereza Melecka, Noora Komulainen and amateur Malcolm Borwick, also lead the team event on 19-under-par.
Korda said: “It was an awesome round. These rounds are spectacular – you cherish every single one that you have. Just when things go right, they go right. I’ve never made three eagles in a round, so I’m definitely going to remember this one.
“We had a great vibe in the group and so I was really relaxed. It’s probably the first round in about three weeks that wasn’t 20 mile an hour winds. That was really nice, just to be able to settle into the golf course.
“I was just keeping it in play and giving myself opportunities and converting a lot of those. For the last month, I think I just haven’t really been converting any putts and the floodgates opened today.”
Korda was actually suffering with a sore throat during her first-round blitz but joked: “If I was feeling physically feeling, who knows what would’ve happened – probably over par!”
De Roey and Babnik underlined that they are Aramco Team Series specialists with strong opening-day displays.
De Roey, 30, clinched her first Ladies European Tour title when she won the Aramco Team Series Bangkok in May and is in contention again after packing seven birdies into her first round.
The Belgian star said: “I just love Aramco events. When you play good as a team – if people support you – it pumps my game as well. I am very happy with my round today. I had a lot of birdies. I couldn’t wish for a better start for the first day.”
Babnik, who won the Aramco Team Series in Jeddah last November, kept a flawless card in mounting a strong start to the tournament.
The Slovenian, 18, said: “I hit many good shots. I’m really happy with my putting today because I made some long putts. Everything came together.”
Nelly Korda and France’s Pauline Roussin are at five-under-par, while Ana Palaez heads the home challenge after a solid 68. Palaez hails from Malaga – just over an hour’s road journey from the splendour of La Reserva Club – and she was followed by a large gallery.
“I was so, so grateful for that,” the 24-year-old Spaniard said of her supporters. “My whole family, friends – I mean so many people. It’s always so nice. I love it.
“I tried to shoot the lowest score possible and it was a minus-4. I’ll take the good from this round and get ready for tomorrow.”
The competition was hot in the team event with Korda’s quartet hold a slender lead at 19-under-par. Teams De Roey and Roussin are a stroke back on 18-under-par.
Starring in the Roussin team was 14-year-old Ana Luisa Hernandez. The Madrid teenager, receiving eight strokes, made a pair of twos – one for a net eagle – to really impress her captain.
Roussin said: “Ana played amazing. She hit it far for her age and her size and she had a good short game, very good putting. She helped us out a lot.”
Hernandez added: “It was a really good experience, definitely something I’m never going to forget – I had a great time.”
Play resumes on Friday morning with the first groups out at 8.15 from both the first and 10th tee.
There is a new format this year for the Aramco Team Series, which launched in 2021. For this season, the teams will compete over only 36 holes – the Thursday and Friday of the tournament – with $500,000 prize-money being split between the lowest scoring fourballs.
Saturday’s final day of play will see only the lowest scoring 60 players and ties from the opening two days return to the course to battle it out for a share of another $500,000, this time in individual earnings.
For more information on attending and tickets, visit aramcoteamseries.com or follow the event on social media @aramco_series.
