HAMPSHIRE’S Liz Young overcame a major scare before her tee time to emerge as the closest challenger to Swedish teenager Julia Engström, who made a strong start to the season-ending Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
Engström set the pace with a five-under par 67 at Vipingo Ridge, on Thursday, in the event that brings down the curtain on the 2019 Ladies European Tour season.
Meanwhile Young, who is in her 11th year on the LET, produced five birdies and one bogey early in the tournament after a scary start to her day.
The Brokenhurst Manor member had the sort of experience I’m a Celebrity’s Kate Garraway and EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa have been having in the Australian jungle on ITV’s reality show, when she was confronted by a gaint spider in her hotel room in the early hours.
Young, who is looking for her first top 10 finish since becoming a mum three years ago, said: “At 5.30am, I walked into the bathroom and there was the biggest huntsman spider in the shower, terrifying me.
“My roommate (Eleanor Givens) was still asleep so I had to be quiet. She has informed me that it’s gone, but I really hope it’s gone down the drain and not into the bedroom.”
Young – who played in the 2016 Women’s British Open at Woburn while seven months’ pregnant – said it was so hot and sticky at 7am that she had to change her glove on the driving range.
However cloud cover moved in just before midday to ease conditions for 104-strong field.
Thirty-seven-year-old Young, from the New Forest, who turned pro in 2009 after playing in the 2008 Curtis Cup, for Great Britain and Ireland against the USA, at St Andrews, has had four top 20s in 2019.
She stands 32nd on this year’s money list having won €35,321 in 11 events.
Eighteen-year-old Julia Engström carded six birdies and a bogey on a sun-kissed opening day to lead by one shot.
Rookie Esther Henseleit, from Germany, who is also looking for a breakthrough victory, shot a 69 to rest alongside last year’s Jabra Ladies Open champion Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, from France.
America’s Cheyenne Woods was also in form and fired a two-under par 70 to claim outright fifth place.
Engström – last season’s Rookie of the Year – birdied the third and fourth holes and cruised to the turn in 34 – before adding another gain at the 11th.
She hit a loose drive on the 13th resulting in her sole bogey, but birdied the 14th and 15th to join Young in the lead.
Engström then knocked a delightful wedge to within nine feet of the target on 18, before making her final birdie putt.
“It was a combination of decent ball-striking and then being good around the greens,” said Julia Engström, who tied for fourth in last week’s Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España after a career-best round of 65 in Saturday’s third round.
“The wind started blowing from the fourth hole as a thunderstorm was coming in close by – and we could feel that. But it was nice to have some breeze because it was so hot.
“It’s always nice to have a few good tournaments and after last week, I tried to stay calm and not stress out too much.”
Henseleit, who is still in the running to end the season as European No 1 if she can record her maiden victory this weekend, also played in the morning, before the wind picked up.
She carded four birdies and a bogey to be six strokes better than the current LET Order of Merit leader, Marianne Skarpnord, who opened with a three-over par 75 to lie in equal 48th position.
Vayson de Pradenne aims to copy Colsearts
THE stakes are equally high for Frenchwoman Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, who stood in 75th place on the Order of Merit as the first Magical Kenya Ladies Open got under way.
She needs a strong finish to move into the top 70 and retain her LET card, but is looking at the bigger picture.
The qualified physiotherapist said: “I’m just trying to enjoy myself. I’m already blessed to be here.
“You look at the scenery around, you look at the sea. Kenya is a fantastic place and I’m just enjoying myself.
“I’m not thinking about trying to save the card, because I’m 34, I’ve got something going in my life other than golf. I’m golf passionate, but if I have to stop after this week, it’s fine.
“Of course I will be sad and frustrated, but I know it’s not going to be the end of my life.
“I know I have to do something this week. I met Nicolas Colsaerts in August and he told me how bad his season was and then he won the French Open.
“So with my coach, we said, ‘You never know, you might do a Colsaerts this week.’ If I don’t do a Colsaerts, I will at least try to play my best golf to try to secure my playing rights for next year.”
Meanwhile, a second tournament victory for Woods, the winner of the 2014 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in Australia, would allow her to re-join the LET next year.
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