Three-way tie at ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters

Celine Herbin, Sarah Kemp and Scottish rookie Sally Watson share the lead after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters

Charley Hull
Charley Hull is inside the top 10 after the first round of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Celine Herbin, Sarah Kemp and Scottish rookie Sally Watson share the lead after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club

Celine Herbin, Sarah Kemp and Scottish rookie Sally Watson share the lead after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters.

Herbin, who started in the morning wave, offset a double at the tough par-3 12th and a bogey at the short 5th with seven birdies, including four in six holes from the 6th.

Kemp, meanwhile, compiled a bogey-free 67 - an impressive achievement given the firm and fast conditions at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in Denham.

Scoring was slightly higher in the afternoon wave, but Watson - who finished third at last week's Allianz Ladies Slovak Open - carried that form over to England.

The Standford University graduate - who turned professional in June 2013 - bogeyed her first two holes, but battled back to reach the turn in 35.

She opened the back nine with two straight birdies and played her last four holes in three-under-par to take a share of the lead heading into day two.

Solheim Cup star Caroline Masson, American Amelia Lewis and Wales' Becky Morgan sit in a tie for 4th on four under, with Cheyenne Woods and Charley Hull lurking precariously just three off the lead.

Defending champion Karrie Webb battled back with two late birdies to record a one-over-par 73, the same score as Northern Irishwoman Stephanie Meadow, who finished second last week at the US Women's Open in her first tournament as a professional.

Four-time major champion Laura Davies in a stroke further back after an inauspicious opening 74.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x