Gemma Dryburgh’s alarm went off at 3:30 a.m., local time on Thursday as she was set to hit the first tee shot at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at 6:30 a.m. But eight minutes out from walking to the tee, officials delayed the event due to heavy fog. Tee times were ultimately delayed two hours at The Renaissance Club.
Dryburgh, who admittedly isn’t a morning person, got off to a hot start with five birdies in a six-hole stretch. The Scot, who is playing some of the best golf of career this summer, finished at 2-under 69, two strokes behind leader Nicole Broch Larsen.
“I just started using AimPoint at the start of this year,” said Dryburgh. “I think that’s really helped a lot just kind of focusing on a specific line, I think beforehand, like in the past, I’ve kind of always second-guessed myself.”
Play was suspended at 8:35 p.m., due to darkness, with 27 players (nine groups) yet to finish. The first round will resume at 8 a.m., on Friday, with the second round beginning on time at 6:30 a.m.
Broch Larsen, who also teed off in the morning’s calm conditions, had only 26 putts in her opening round. It’s her second start of the 2020 season. She tied for 21st at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.
“I’m a home person and I love being home. So to me, it’s definitely been a good period, even though I of course wanted to play tournament golf,” said Broch Larsen, who got engaged to boyfriend Kasper Estrup over the break. “For me personally, it’s been really good, and it’s not a different Nicole, but I feel like I’m in a better place and I felt that on the course today. I was more relaxed and whenever I hit a bad shot, I kind of moved on faster than normally.”
Five players are one shot back in a share of second: Amy Olson, Jennifer Song, Olivia Cowan, Emily Pedersen and Azahara Munoz.
Pedersen won on the ECCO Tour against the men in Denmark over the break, carding rounds of 66-67 to clip Oliver Suhr by one at Romo Golf Club and earn about $5,150. She also won an amateur event on the Danish Golf Union’s Elite Tour. In Denmark, pros are allowed to compete in amateur tournaments.
Danielle Kang, winner of the past two events in Toledo, opened with an even-par 71 and is tied for 22nd.
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