Dubai: Charley Hull’s grip on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit tightened with an opening five-under-par round of 67 on the first day of the season-ending Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Wednesday.
However, the 18-year-old Englishwoman can’t relax just yet, as her nearest rival on the money list, 39-year-old Gwladys Nocera of France, lurks just two strokes behind after an opening 69.
Just over €20,000 (Dh115,282) separates the two coming into this €500,000 finale, meaning if Nocera were to finish second, third or fourth, Hull would need to be either third, eighth or 30th respectively to win the overall series title.
Nevertheless Hull, who recovered from an early bogey with three birdies on either nine, was happy with her round and quick to distance herself from the title chase. “I got off to a steady start,” she said. “I made a bogey in the first four holes, but I made six birdies out of eight holes, so I was pretty happy with that. I feel like I’m swinging it well now, and just holing a few of those putts.
“I don’t really want to think about each other’s games too much,” she said of Nocera. “It’s not really a match-play tournament. Some people might think like that. But I’m just playing the course.”
Nocera, who fought back from an opening bogey to birdie four of the last five holes on her front nine and followed up a birdie with a bogey midway through her return, also feigned apathy for the Order of Merit title.
“For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the moment,” she said. “Whatever comes on Saturday, comes. Charley is playing really well. She’s doing her job, I’m doing mine and we’ll see what happens on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, the Rookie of the Year title race looked over before it had even started. Wales’ Amy Boulden, 21, hit an opening 70, while her nearest rival for best newcomer, Scotland’s Sally Watson, 23, hit 76. Less than €8,000 separates the two in the money list but Watson will need a miracle to avoid the cut and stay in contention.
