12-06-2025
Kelsey Bennett leads on rollercoaster day for the Irish in Belgium
Australia's Kelsey Bennett topped the leaderboard on day one of the Hulencourt Women's Open, with an opening round of 67 (-5) in Belgium.
Starting on the 10th tee, Bennett had a strong run of birdies, including multiple back-to-back streaks on both the front and back nine.
Despite two bogeys and a double bogey, the 25-year-old still managed an impressive five-under-par round, thanks to a remarkable nine birdies over the opening 18 holes.
Despite dropping shots on the 5th, 7th, and 14th, a total of seven birdies ensured she scored low on the first day.
India's Avani Prashanth (18) and Germany's Helen Briem (19) sit in a tie for second place, after firing rounds of 68 (-4) for the first 18 holes.
One shot back are four players on three-under par including Scotland's Kylie Henry, England's Cara Gainer, France's Nastasia Nadaud, and Wales' Lydia Hall.
Anna Foster and Lauren Walsh are best of the Irish on +1.
Foster was on course for an under-par round after three birdies on the back nine before a double-bogey on 18.
Walsh was -2 at the turn but dropped three shots coming in.
Sara Byrne is just inside the current cut mark on +2 but Canice Screene and Olivia Mehaffey (both +3) have work to do tomorrow.
Chasing her first LET victory, Bennett has had a solid start of the season, recording three top-10 finishes - including a tie for eighth at both the Joburg Ladies Open and the Aramco Korea Championship, and an impressive T3 at the Investec SA Women's Open.
"I'm pretty happy with today", she said. "I can't complain when you hole a few putts, so it's good. My caddie and I really spoke through a lot of the shots today, and it definitely pulled off."
"You've got to get in the right position off the tee, especially with that wind. It got up a bit, so just making sure you judge the right distance, especially as there's a fair few run-offs on the sides of the greens."
