TEAM KREUZER IN FRONT AS FIVE-WAY TIE AT THE TOP IN THE INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION

• Team Kreuzer lead on 22-under-par
• Five players fired rounds of 67 (-5) to be tied at the top in the Individual standings

Team Kreuzer hold a six-shot lead at the end of the first day of the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah, while five players share the lead in the individual competition.

It was quite the morning for Germany’s Helen Tamy Kreuzer, as she was first reserve heading into day one of the tournament and received a message at 5am this morning to say Becky Brewerton had to withdraw and she would now be playing.

Fast forward a few hours and Kreuzer alongside Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta, Sweden’s Lina Boqvist and Saudi amateur Lujain Khalil sit atop the leaderboard in the team competition on 22-under-par.

Captain Kreuzer said: “I was first reserve this week and I wasn’t sure if I was going to get into the field, and then last night, I got a little heads up that somebody might be pulling out.

“At 5.00 in the morning, they texted me and said you’re in the field and so at 7.14 I was on the tee. Obviously, I’m happy to be playing, but you never want to pull out of a tournament, so I hope Becky is okay.”

The quartet didn’t drop a shot on day one shooting 12-under-par on the front nine and coming home in 10-under-par to put them clear at the top of the leaderboard at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

Boqvist, who was part of the winning team at the Aramco Team Series – New York in 2021, said: “It was a nice round out there. We made a lot of birdies and a lot of eagles. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Carta added: “It’s much easier to play well when you have a good team and when you are able to enjoy yourself out there. I’m happy that we are doing well as a team as well and happy to be here.”

While the amateur Khalil, who only began playing golf three years ago, was thrilled to be part of the tournament. She explained: “I started golf three years ago in COVID. I never saw myself standing here in three years honestly. I still need to learn to take my time. It’s a lot of hard work. I’m happy to see it pay off. I’m very privileged to be here.

“I have one of the best rounds of my life so far. It was the best team anyone can ask for, and we were having fun but today we focused, playing well and I’m very lucky to say I’m standing with the team that’s in the lead.”