Ladies European Tour: Linn Grant edging Maja Stark in Race to Costa del Sol as England’s Cara Gainer leads Open de Espana | Golf News

Sweden’s Linn Grant and Maja Stark battle it out to win the race to the Costa del Sol; England’s Cara Gainer leads after the first round of the Open de Espana, with Grant in third place and Stark in seventh – watch the second round on Sky Sports Golf on Friday

Sweden’s Linn Grant has a clear lead over her teammate and Race to Costa del Sol teammate Maja Stark after the opening round of the Open de Espana, with England’s Cara Gainer leading the race.

Grant has a slimmer chance than Stark in the battle to become champion golfer on the tour in 2022 and will take the crown if he finishes on top or has his fellow Swede in Marbella.

Grant – who has won four titles this year compared to Stark’s three – recovered from two overs after three holes to card a one-under 68, the 23-year-old birdieing his final three holes to move into third place. at Alferini Golf.

Stark fired a four-under-par 69 to share a tie for seventh, and the 22-year-old was unable to match Grant’s three birdies at the death as he shared the finals after making gains on the 16th and 17th.

Stark was left to three-putt the 10th and 11th and record back-to-back bogeys.

Linn Grant has less of a chance than her Race to Costa del Sol rival and fellow Swede Maja Stark after the start in Spain.

Leading the way for the day was Gainer, whose seven-under 66 had nine birdies and two bogeys to leave her one point behind defending champion Carlota Ciganda, who bogeyed her final six holes after suffering seven bogeys on the day. 11.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who finished second to Lydia Ko at last week’s CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour, continued her good form with a one-under 68 to tie Grant for third.

Watch two rounds of the Open de Espana live on Sky Sports on Friday. Coverage begins at 1pm on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel with action following on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Mix from 3pm.

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