HELLMAN LEADS AFTER DAY ONE AT EUROPEAN PRE-QUALIFYING

Ebba Hellman set the pace on the first day of the Pre-Qualifier – Europe at the 2023 LET Q-School after firing a round of 66 (-5).

The Swede kicked off her Pre-Qualifying campaign on the 10^th tee of the North Course at La Manga Club and rolled in a birdie on the 13^th and 18^th holes.

Hellman then found some momentum making four birdies in the space of six holes and despite dropping a shot on the seventh, she finished at the top of the leaderboard on five-under-par.

“It was really nice,” she said. “You come here, and you don’t really know what to expect. You always have something that you feel like you need to improve.

“My irons worked very well today and even though the swing doesn’t feel perfect, you can manage your way from point a to point b and you just focus on that. It doesn’t always have to be pretty, and I stuck a few close, which was nice. I got a long putt in every now and then, which was fun, and I managed to stay in my rhythm.”

The 24-year-old will tee it up on the South Course tomorrow, but is relishing her first experience playing at LET Q-School.

She explained: “I’m very humble for the fact it’s the first time that I’m playing this course. I know a lot of players have a routine being here, I think my caddie and I made a good plan and we’ll try to stick to that.

“I would really like to stay in Europe, and I think the Tour has improved rapidly in the last two or three years. Tomorrow I’m expecting a lot more longer irons and let’s hope they are good or at least decent and I’m expecting a lot more wind, so I’m going to try and stay patient and try not to get ahead of myself.”

Two players sit in second place with Thailand’s Benyapa Niphatsophon and Austria’s Emma Spitz both on four-under-par.

Niphatsophon, who is known by the nickname ‘Gift’, began with two birdies in her first three holes but soon found her rhythm rolling in two birdies to make the turn in even par.

The former LPGA Tour player than made four birdies on her back nine on the North course to put herself in an excellent position at the end of day one at La Manga Club.

“I just went out there and had fun,” said the Thai player. “On the practice rounds, I didn’t play the full 18 holes, I played nine and then walked the course. If I hit it straight and was able to make my putts, I thought I could shoot this score, but I’m just having fun and not caring about the result. I just want to do my best.

“The weather is very nice;…