Solheim Cup stars Leona Maguire and Georgia Hall in the top four women’s race; Daniel Brown won two in the men’s competition; Watch the second round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational live on Sky Sports Golf from 1pm on Friday
19:50, UK, Thursday 17 August 2023
England’s Danielle Brown holds a two-shot lead after the opening day of the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland, while compatriot Gabriella Cowley shares the lead in the women’s event.
Brown carded an eagle and six birdies in a 64-under opening at Castlerock Golf Club, one of two courses used for the event by the DP World Tour, the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. At the same time.
Comrades Alex Fitzpatrick and Callen Barrow were among the five-under four, with Italy’s Gregorio De Leo the only player in the chasing four to compile his score at Calgorm Castle.
In the women’s category, Cowley shared the lead with four points, tied with Karis Davidson, Kim Madracks and Eleanor Sudow.
Fitzpatrick, who tied for 17th at the Open at Royal Liverpool, won his first Challenge Tour title at St Melly two weeks later, continuing his impressive run with a 66 that included five consecutive birdies.
The 24-year-old, the younger brother of 2022 US Open winner Matt, said: „I hit the greens, made a couple of putts, ran a little bit and it was good. The wind started to blow. It made it difficult to hit the greens and give yourself chances.
Ryder Cup hopeful Robert McIntyre, who holds the last available automatic qualification spot on the European points list, returned a one-under 69 at Calgorm Castle, where seventh-ranked Victor Perez – who struggled to an opening 74.
This week’s event is one of three remaining on the DP World Tour in the Ryder Cup qualifying campaign, with Luke Donald naming his six captains’ picks on September 4, while the women’s competition is the last in the race to qualify for Europe’s Solheim Cup. Team.
European Solheim Cup captain Suzanne Pietersen gives an insight into the potential make-up of her squad as she prepares to choose her four captains’ picks.
2019 winner Bronte Law took an early lead as she tried to force a fightback for Suzanne Pietersen’s side, with Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire – both already qualified for Group Europe – sitting level in the group.
Ruska shoots a historic 59 rounds on the Challenge Tour!
Larry Ruska wrote his name in the record books by posting the fourth sub-60 round in Challenge Tour history en route to opening up a four-shot lead at the Viramaki Finnish Challenge.
Ruska carded an eagle and 10 birdies en route to a bogey-free 59, beating Adrien Morck (2006 Moroccan Classic), Niccolò Ravano (2016 Fred Olsen Challenge de España) and Alejandro Del Rey (2021 Swiss Challenger) on the Break Challenger Tour.
„Filming ’59 is pretty amazing,” Ruska said. „It’s amazing to be part of the 59 club. Honestly, I knew it was going to be a low-scoring week and I saw that I was able to do it, but I didn’t believe it.”
You can watch the ISPS Handa World Invitational live on Sky Sports all week. Live coverage continues on Sky Sports Golf from 1pm on Friday. Now stream the best of golf and more for just £26 a month for 12 months.