Woad shares lead after first round as professional

First-round clubhouse leaderboard for the Women’s Scottish Open

-5 Iturrioz (Spa), Maguire (Ire), Takeda (Jap), Woad (Eng), -4 Bae (USA), Katsu (Jap), Korda (USA), Lee (NZ), Metraux (Swi), Napoleaova (Phi), Young (Eng).

Selected others: -1 Fuller (Eng), Hull (Eng), E Hewson (Eng), + 2 Darling (Sco), + 5 Stark (Swe), + 6 Dryburgh (Sco)

The 21-year-old took the early lead in Lottie Woad’s first professional round at Dundonald Links, where she won the Women’s Scottish Open.

After six birdies in 14 holes, including almost holing her tee shot at the short 11th hole, the former amateur world number one from Surrey had held onto her own.

However, Woad’s only bogey of the day came at the par-four 17th, where she was backed up alongside Rio Takeda from Japan, Rio Takeda from Spain, and Nuria Iturrioz from Ireland, who both shot five under-par 67.

“I will definitely take it, there were some positive aspects and some negative aspects,” Woad said.

“The wind made the last couple of holes challenging, and I was just playing for par.” Most of the day was pretty stress-free.

Woad, who won the Irish Open earlier this month, made the announcement last week that she would become a professional.

That came after Grace Kim’s finish was just one shot outside the play-off won by her in the women’s fourth major of the year, earning her £400,000 prize money.