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Dorset’s Hayley Davis shines with 66 in Spain
18 February 2010
England girl international Hayley Davis shot a splendid score of six-under-par 66 and took a four shot lead after the first round of the 54-hole Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open in the Murcia region of south-east Spain.
It’s the lowest score ever recorded on the course by a woman but it can’t stand as a record because preferred lies are in operation.
Hayley, from Ferndown in Dorset, broke clear of the small but quality field of Curtis Cup contenders, with birdies at the long fourth, the short eighth, the par-4 10th, 11th and 13th, and also the treacherous par-5 18th.
She did not have a single bogey in halves of 34 and 32 for the Dave Thomas-designed course.
Afterwards, Hayley commented: "I'm just pleased that I scored better than I did in the Murcia Ladies Open at the start of the week.” She had rounds of 82 and 72 to finish sixth.
Last year, Hayley became the first English player for eight years to win the Scottish U16 girls' open stroke-play championship and she went on to help England retain the girls' home international championship, and then reached the quarter-finals of the British girls’ championship. She also won the Liphook Scratch Cup.
Hayley's playing partner Danielle Anderson said that it was a great round to watch."Hayley was completely in control from start to finish, and she was holing everything, which helps!" said Danielle who went round in 77.
Hayley’s nearest challenger is former English champion Hannah Barwood (Knowle) with a two-under-par 70, followed by Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) with a 71.
Amber Ratcliffe, 14-year-old Royal Cromer prospect, has a four-shot lead in the U16 Girls' Open after a fine scratch round of 74. Dulcie Sverdloff (Thorpe Hall), with a 78, was the only other player in this category to break 80. In the U18 section, Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham) shot a 74 to lead by two from Holly Robinson (Co Sligo).
