Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)

Spain, bolstered by two of the top-5 ranked amateurs in the world, holds a one-stroke lead over Canada following Wednesday’s opening round of the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Cayetana Garcia-Poggio, No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, posted a 4-under-par 68 and 2023 European Ladies’ Amateur champion Julia Lopez Ramirez (No. 5) added a 69 to position Spain at 7-under-par 137, one head of the Canadians and two in front of Ireland.

Garcia-Poggio’s round included six birdies against two bogeys. Lopez Ramirez, who was one of two amateurs to make the 36-hole cut in the 2023 AIG Women’s Open, totaled four birdies and a bogey, while teammate Carla Bernat Escuder posted a non-counting 70.

“I was hitting good shots, but the putts weren’t going in, so I just like ‘wait, be patient’,” said Garcia-Poggio. “I almost hit a hole in one [on the fourth hole] and that helped me make more birdies.”

Spain, which finished fifth last year in France after a heartbreaking double-bogey from Garcia-Poggio on the 72nd hole to fall out of the lead, is seeking its first WATC medal since claiming silver in 2008 in Australia.

Ramirez said: “It’s a tough course because I feel like it’s pretty narrow and going in the rough gets you in a lot of trouble to hit the greens. Also with the heat, it makes it a little harder on you. But honestly, I like it, it’s tough. I don’t like when a course is super easy and everyone can shoot under par, so I’m excited for this.”

Canada rode a pair of 3-under 68s in the afternoon from 2022 US Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun and 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim to post a 6-under total of 138. Chun, who became the first Canadian to make the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, tallied six birdies and three bogeys.

“There’s a lot of golf to play but a good start is always helpful,” said Chun. “I’m hitting it pretty consistent. Some of the putts went in so that really helped with the birdies, but hopefully tomorrow I’ll make less bogeys and put in a good round.”

Ireland’s Sara Byrne, India’s Avani Prashanth and Japan’s Mamika Shinchi matched Fernandez Garcia-Poggio’s 4-under 68 for the low rounds of the day. Ireland used a combination of Byrne’s 68 and a 71 from Beth Coulter to post a 5-under 139 and hold solo third place.

Germany, India and the Republic of Korea share fourth place at 140, three strokes behind Spain.

Playing in its sixth WWATC, India had its best start in competition history on the strength of Prashanth’s 68 and an even-par 72 from Mannat Brar.

Germany was led by a bogey-free, 3-under 69 from Chiara Horder, the team’s playing captain who is a junior at Texas Tech University, and a 71 from Celina Sattelkau.

“We want to be up there [on the leaderboard], we want to get medals and play for the win,” said Horder, the 2023 British Women’s Amateur champion. “It feels good to have a good start and to contribute to the team.”

The UAE’s Lara El Chaib hit the opening tee shot. Sixteen of the 36 teams finished under par as the amateurs fight for the Espirito Santo Trophy.