Coral start for the Armada in China. The Aramco China Championship began this Thursday and the Spanish players are raising their hands to take their turn.
The best Spanish player at Mission Hills was Luna Sobrón (-4). The Majorcan signed a great card of 69 for a total of four under par, placing fifth, two shots off the lead held by Moa Folke. Five birdies and a solitary bogey spiced up her first 18 holes.
Luna is twentieth in the Order of Merit and is determined to fight to get into the top ten of the year, which grants direct access to the LPGA Q-Series Final. To achieve this, she needs to finish the season on a high. The goal is to catch up with Lauren Walsh, who is just under 450 points ahead. For this, Luna would need to win the tournament; however, a top three or top five in China could leave the door open to finish it off at the Open de España. For now, the first step is taken. Well positioned just two shots off the lead and playing very solidly. She hasn’t missed a single fairway all day. A perfect 14. She has six top tens this season, and who knows if the time has come to dream of victory.
Marta Sanz (-3) arrives in need, but for very different reasons. The Madrid native is in 101st place in the annual ranking, and this is her last chance to fight to save her playing rights through this route. She needs to be fourth to reach the top 70 goal. Her start has been more than positive, on the verge of the top ten, and three shots off the lead. A step forward with the irons could bring her closer to the places of honour.
Blanca Fernández (-2), who is 67th of the year, needs to make the cut to avoid relying on other players’ results to maintain her rights. She has taken a good first step with a round of two under par, placing her in the top thirty. She must stay focused in the second round and can almost certainly enjoy another year in the elite of European golf.
Tied with Blanca in that position is Nuria Iturrioz (-2), who shares the same goal as Luna Sobrón. The fellow Balearic is two hundred points from the target. She has started well. Marta Martín (-1) managed to scrape a stroke at Mission Hills.
María Hernández (+1) couldn’t enjoy a good start. Regarding the Order of Merit, she is in the same situation as Marta Sanz, but the experienced golfer has struggled significantly at the start. The margin for error is running out, the cut is two shots away. Friday is a day to push to make it to the weekend and then dream of a spectacular weekend. There is time.
