Lottie Woad sits one off the lead at Women's Scottish Open

The Herald Scotland

6 days ago

As for Lottie Woad? Well, she just takes it all in her stride. In her first start as a new recruit to the professional ranks, the supremely talented 21-year-old moved herself into early contention on day one of the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.
Flung into the marquee group with the world No 1, Nelly Korda, and box office hit, Charley Hull, Woad revelled in the occasion and marked a new era in her blossoming career with a sprightly five-under 67.
There's nothing to this pro lark, eh? 'I don't think so,' said Woad, who finished a shot behind the pacesetting Charlotte Laffar.
This game is never easy, of course, but Woad continues to ride a wave of confidence that has built up over a prolonged period of achievement.
A winner of the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship in 2024, Load went on to finish in a share of 10th as an amateur in the AIG Women's Open last summer.
The Surrey youngster continued those amateur dramatics in the Irish Women's Open at the start of July and won by six shots before finishing in a tie for third in the fourth major of the women's campaign, the Amundi Evian Championship.
Her switch to the paid game was inevitable. On a pleasant Ayrshire day, it was just business as usual for Woad amid all the hype and hoopla.
'I try and ignore it as much as possible,' she said after a sturdy round that featured six birdies and just a solitary dropped shot on the tricky 17th.
'When I was teeing off, I didn't expect to see so many people. I have high expectations for myself. I'll definitely take this (score).'
Any early nerves were swiftly settled with a birdie on the second hole. 'I holed a nice 15-footer, and I was away from there,' she added.
While Woad finished among the early frontrunners, Hannah Darling, the talented Scot who is also making her pro debut at Dundonald and was a Curtis Cup team-mate of Woad, had to settle for a two-over 74.
It was still a spirited effort, though. A double-bogey and a triple-bogey could've completely knocked the stuffing out of her but Darling dug in and picked up three birdies on her closing fives holes to repair some of the damage.
'I'm proud of how I bounced back,' said Darling, who racked up a host of prizes during a terrific amateur career.
'I was very nervous on the first tee. Really happy to only make contact with the ball and then I was off.'
Darling's dad won't forget his daughter's pro debut either. 'Oh, man, I hit a shot, and it was fine and the wind started taking it and I look up and he's walking right towards it and it clocked him in the back of the neck,' added Darling of clattering faither.
'Apparently, he was fine but I was just a bit worried about him. My dad is like, 'no, you just take care of yourself, I'll be fine'. Classic parent. I'm glad he's okay.'
Korda, making her first appearance in the Women's Scottish Open, was lurking ominously on the leaderboard after a four-under 68 while Ireland's Leona Maguire finished a shot better off on 67 after a rousing start to her opening round.
'I holed out with a 9-iron on our first hole of the day, so I couldn't have asked for a better start,' said Maguire of her eagle-two.
Laffar, meanwhile, had a slightly different start to the day but ended it at the top of the leaderboard.
'I started with a bogey but sometimes it goes that way and you relax into it,' she said after a fine 66. 'It was an amazing day.'
Lauren Couhglin, the defending champion, opened with a 69 while the aforementioned Hull posted a 71. Aberdeen's Gemma Dryburgh, a winner on the LPGA Tour in 2022, struggled to a 78.