TEAM VAN DAM AND TEAM GRANT TIED AT THE TOP AS BRINGNER LEADS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

• Team Van Dam and Team Grant both tied on 16-under-par
• Sweden’s Sofie Bringner fires a seven-under-par 66 to top the individual leaderboard

Team Van Dam and Team Grant share the lead on 16-under-par at the end of the first day of the Aramco Team Series – London.

Anne Van Dam, Pasqualle Coffa, Elena Hualde and amateur James Dunkley joined forces to set the early pace at Centurion Club.

The quartet made the turn in eight-under and replicated that on the back nine only dropping two shots all day to reach a total of 16-under.

“It was very fun,” said Van Dam. “We started very early, and we got off to a really good start. Elena was playing amazing on the front as was Pasqualle.

“We made a ton of birdies and had good individual round. Overall, we made a lot of birdies, and it was fun out there.”

Hualde explained: “I get so happy for their birdies. When you’re playing with your own ball, but with this way you want to do them so well. You always want to do it so well but it’s extra exciting when they have a good shot. I really like this format.”

While amateur Dunkley added: “It was a joy to watch these guys play, incredible for me. Tough out there for me but a joy to watch these girls play, the accuracy, brilliant.”

Team Grant made up of Swedish duo Linn Grant and Sofie Bringner alongside English legend Trish Johnson and amateur Peter Thompson finished not long after.

The quarter were tied alongside Team Van Dam after a sensational back nine, which saw them 10-under in the final six holes.

And the excellent performance was in part thanks to Sweden’s Bringner who fired an excellent first day of 66 (-7) which included three eagles to lead the Individual competition.

“We had a great time out there. Obviously Sofie’s performance, helped us out a bit,” said captain Grant.

“I like the format. You make a bogey, and you know you can make it up on the next hole and help team. Peter contributed on a couple of holes with a few shots, we wouldn’t be here on -16 if it wasn’t for him.”

Johnson added: “Just to watch these guys play is a dream. They’re both utterly fantastic, and if that’s their idea of solid golf, God knows what their idea of good is.

“The both of you were absolutely superb today and Peter did, as well. It was tough but they hit some extremely amazing shots between the two of them and it’s just great to watch.”

And Bringner, who secured LET status in 2022 thanks to finishing fifth on the Order of Merit on…