Julia López (-2) is increasingly comfortable at the top table. As the weeks go by, the Andalusian is settling into the LPGA. A case in point is this Thursday’s first round of the Mexico Riviera Open, where she started with a great round of 70 at the always challenging Camaleón Golf Course in Mayakoba. She begins her competition among the top ten in the tournament.
After making only one cut in her first five events, last week Julia stepped up by finishing in the top 30 at the Mizuho Americas Open, with chances throughout the week to finish in the top ten. Only a poor Sunday kept her from achieving this. She continues in Mexico with the good momentum started last week. At just 22 years old and in her rookie season, she is already sending messages of what she is capable of, having been the World Amateur Number One.
The round had many elements in the equation. Seven birdies, four bogeys, a double bogey, and another seven pars. Anything but boring. The wind and high temperatures did not make playing conditions easy. Tied for tenth and intending to maintain the pace on cut day. In the preview, Carlota Ciganda (PAR) noted that a round under par was a very positive result, and Julia has made it her own. She passed the first day of battle against the Camaleón with flying colours.
The Navarrese, however, could not beat the course at the start. Ciganda carded a 72 to begin in Mexico. In 25th place and four shots off the lead, everything is in order. The round was a real battle with the course. She started the tournament with a bogey and lost another two shots on the first par five. Three over par in just five holes. It was time to roll up her sleeves, and she did. Three almost consecutive birdies (9, 11, and 12) brought her back to par, although she stumbled again two holes later. On the last hole of the day, she finally capitalised on a par five and finished level with El Camaleón. She starts the tournament among the top twenty-five and just four off the lead.
Tied with Carlota are the Englishwoman Charley Hull and the Indian Aditi Ashok. Meanwhile, Linn Grant (-1) has started with a round of 71. Tied at the top at four under par is a very exotic quartet: the Japanese Chisato Iwai, the Korean Jenny Shin, the Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan, and the American Brianna Do.
Fátima Fernández Cano (+3) is currently just inside the provisional cut and is looking to play her first weekend of the season in Mexico. Six tournaments, six missed cuts. The burden is starting to weigh, and what better place than Playa del Carmen to lighten the load and reset the counter.
Azahara Muñoz (+7) will have a tougher challenge. This Friday, she will need a great round to be in the weekend in Mexico. An opening 79 and beyond the hundredth place on the leaderboard. It’s time to fight and fly low.
