Swedish schoolgirl Julia Engström fired a seven-under-par 64 over the Chateaux Course at Golf du Médoc on Thursday morning to take a three-stroke clubhouse lead in the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
The 17-year-old from Halmstad started with a bogey but quickly recovered with six birdies and an eagle.
Playing in changeable conditions, she birdied the second, fifth, ninth and 10th holes, before sinking an eagle putt from eight metres on the tricky par-5 14th. She then closed with further gains on the 16th and 18th.
“I played very solid. I hit my approach shots pretty close and took advantage of the par fives and managed to roll in some putts,” said the LET’s leading rookie professional, who combines golf with high school studies.
Julia added: “I had good ball striking today and made some good putts. I think that’s the key, to read the greens correctly and put yourself in a good position both from the tee and after your approach shot.”
Engström created a piece of golf history when, at 15, she became the youngest player to win the British women's open amateur championship at the Dundonald Links in Ayrshire two years ago.
That confirmed her as one of golf’s rising stars, having been introduced to the sport by her parents as a two-year-old and presented with her first set of clubs two years later.
Her mother Jeanette, who is also her caddie on tour, was a tennis professional and Julia was an accomplished player herself growing up, but she chose golf at 12 and was a scratch golfer by the age of 13.
She said: “I think it’s because I had so many friends playing golf. The town that I am from, Halmstad, it’s a golf city, where everyone plays and we had such good junior golf activity at my club as well.”
Engström has played at Ringenäs Golf Club since the age of seven, which is the same club that Lynn Carlsson hails from. Fellow Swede Carlsson was tied for second on four-under-par with Silvia Banon of Spain and Anne Lise Caudal from France, after 12 holes.
Meanwhile, last month’s European Golf Team Championships gold medallist Cajsa Persson, Jessica Karlsson and Lydia Hall carded three-under-par rounds of 68 to be four strokes off the pace.
“It gives you good momentum and confidence having played well and you just try to keep that flowing,” said Persson, who has been celebrating at home over the last two weeks.
 “I played well today and hit the ball really well on the first nine, especially off the tee. I’m happy with my ball striking. I just made a bogey on 16, because I missed my drive a bit, but it was generally steady golf.”

SCOTS' SCORES
par 71
70 Kylie Henry (T25)
71 Gemma Dryburgh (T38)

Also:
Vikki Laing level par after 9 holes
Michele Thomson one over par after nine holes
Carly Booth one over par after nine holes
Kelsey Macdonald one over par after 15 holes

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