Excited Eberl leads in Denmark

9/6/2008

Germany’s Martina Eberl shot seven-under-par 66 to take a one stroke lead after the first round of the Nykredit Masters in Denmark.

The 27-year-old from Munich mixed eight birdies with one bogey on a fine afternoon at Simon’s Golf Club near Helsingør.

Playing with World No.2 Annika Sorenstam and home favourite Iben Tinning, Eberl played the front nine in one-under. She birdied the 12th hole before rattling off five birdies in a row from the par-three14th for an inward total of six-under 32 and a one shot lead over English rookie Melissa Reid.

Australia’s Nikki Garrett and Germany’s Denise Charlotte Becker were a shot further back on five-under 68.

Garrett, a two-time winner on the LET last year, picked up four shots over her closing three holes with a birdie, birdie, eagle finish. She has regained confidence in recent weeks after putting her old driver back in the bag.

Sweden’s Emma Zackrisson, the 2008 Open de Espana champion, shot four-under 69 and shared fifth place with leading Dane Lisa Holm Sorensen, Scotland’s Clare Queen and England’s Kirsty S Taylor.

Sorenstam, who is playing in her last tournament in Europe before stepping away from the game at the end of the year, opened with a two-under-par 71 for a six-way share of 14th position.

Leaderboard – Rpund 1:

1. Martina Eberl                        GER  66 - 7
2. Melissa Reid                         ENG  67 - 6
3. Denise-Charlotte Becker        GER  68 - 5
    Nikky Garrett                        GER  68 - 5
5. Emma Zackrisson                 SWE  69 - 4
    Clare Queen                        SCO  69 - 4
    Lisa Holm Sorensen              DEN  69 - 4
    Kirsty S. Taylor                     ENG  69 - 4
9. Iben Tinning                        DEN  70 - 3
    Miriam Nagl                         GER  70 - 3
    Lotta Wahlin                        SWE  70 - 3
    Karen Margrethe Juul            DEN  70 - 3
    Veronica Zorzi                      ITA  70 - 3
 
    Zuzana Kamasová                SVK  74 +1

Source: Ladies European Tour