Lauren Walsh lurking in quest for maiden LET win in Chinese Taipei
Lauren Walsh of Ireland during the first round. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET
Lauren Walsh believes keeping things simple is key as she bids to claim her maiden Ladies European Tour win in the weather-reduced Wistron Ladies Open in Chinese Taipei.
The Carton House touring professional (25) carded a four-under 68 when she completed the final six holes of her rain-delayed first round at Sunrise Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan to go into the final round just two shots off the lead in a tie for third.
“Sometimes we can overthink things,” said the Co Kildare star, who is enjoying a great season on the LET and lies 11th in the Order of Merit with just two events of the campaign remaining after this week.
Torrential rain meant she didn’t get to play a practice round but she’s adapted well.
“It was nice to go out with fresh eyes and just hit the best shot in front of me,” she explained. "My caddie and I kept it simple - hit the fairway, hit the green, and make a decent putt.”
It’s been a trying week for the players after torrential rain delayed Friday’s first round and forced organisers to reduce the 54-hole event to 36 holes.
Round one resumed early Saturday morning before play was suspended once again at 8:06 am due to fog.
Play finally got back underway at 11:00 am, allowing players to continue their opening rounds, and round one’s afternoon wave to start.
Walsh resumed on four-under and while she bogeyed the fifth, her 14th hole, she birdied the par-five sixth and parred her way home.
Her 68 left her tied for third alongside Chinese Taipei’s Ya Chun Chang and Thailand’s Kultida Pramphun, just two strokes behind Thailand’s Nook Sukapan and Chinese Taipei’s Yani Tseng.
Tseng still has four holes left to play while Sukapan managed to complete all 18 holes.
“It’s been such an unpredictable week,” said the Castlewarden golfer, who has recorded six top 10 finishes this year, including a runner-up spot in the VO Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
“We didn’t know if we’d even get to play or what kind of condition the course would be in after all the rain.
“Yesterday was pretty miserable - it didn’t stop raining for the 12 holes I played, so my caddie and I were just trying to hang in there and grind it out.”
Maintaining her focus is now her big goal for Sunday as she looks to follow in the footsteps of Leona Maguire and become just the second Irish woman to win on the Ladies European Tour.
“You just have to keep grinding and make sure to reset every time play is suspended,” she said.
“The course staff at Sunrise have done an incredible job. Considering how much rain we’ve had, the greens are in an amazing condition.
“Since I landed Monday night, it hasn’t stopped raining, but the last two holes today were finally dry. Kudos to everyone working hard to keep the course playable.”
Eleven players share sixth place at three-under par, including France’s Agathe Sauzon, Thailand’s Kornkamol Sukaree, Kamonwan Lueamsri, and Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, Chinese Taipei’s Heather Lin, England’s Cara Gainer and Alice Hewson, New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey, India’s Hitaashee Bakshi, and Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes.
England’s Lottie Woad was two under through 12 holes of her first round after mixing four birdies with a double bogey seven at the ninth.
