Germany’s Elisabeth Esterl and Italian Veronica Zorzi made a flying start to the Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf Masters as they shared the clubhouse lead on the opening day at Albatross Golf Resort in the Czech Republic.
The pair shot six under par rounds of 66 to end the morning two strokes ahead of England’s Melissa Reid and South African Connie Chen followed by England’s Laura Davies and Australian Stacey Keating a shot further back on three under.
The early starters played in warm and windy conditions, which didn’t faze the experienced competitors, both of whom have had rollercoaster careers with highs and lows on the Ladies European Tour.
Italian Veronica Zorzi made an explosive start with a front nine total of six under par 30 after four birdies and an eagle at the par-five ninth hole.
The 31-year-old from Verona was steadier on the back nine, with just one bogey at the 15th countered by a birdie on 16.
“It was a nice day. I had a good score, played well, very solid. Hit 16 greens, made 29 putts. I like very much this golf course. It’s in very good shape and the greens are great. There are many par fives and I’m a long hitter so for me it’s good. It’s a really nice course and I’m enjoying being here,” Zorzi said. On her ninth hole eagle, she added: “I hit a great drive, down wind and a five-iron I put to one metre and a half and my putt was in.”
Bavarian Esterl, who was six under par after four birdies and an eagle in her first 12 holes, dropped a shot at the par-four 14th but recovered with a birdie on 17.
She said: “I was very happy as it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been struggling for a while so it feels really, really good and today the putter kept working and it felt very easy. It was one of those days where it feels very easy.”
Her eagle on 12 was a highlight. “I just hit a good shot in and got the right bounce and came up to two and a half metres so it was a nice bonus.
“It’s been a long time since I was in the red numbers but like I said, if you make some putts and keep it there you can score really well and the greens are fabulous this week. It seems like the hole is bigger in Prague than it has been elsewhere this year.”
Both Esterl and Zorzi have two victories on the Ladies European Tour, but have struggled in recent years.
For Esterl, who won the 2003 Tenerife Open and 2005 Dutch Open, a 66 could mark a new beginning having slipped down the rankings whilst focusing on the technical elements of the golf swing.
She explained that she had been steering the ball but was now swinging more freely and had cleared her mind of expectations. “I think I relaxed more because I had been putting too much pressure on myself to perform and I didn’t let it happen so today I put a good swing on, see where it goes and hit it again, so I think that attitude makes a big difference in the game, if you don’t care so much, sometimes its better,” she said.
Zorzi, who won back-to-back French Open titles in 2005 and 2006, explained how she had been recovering from a recurring injury since 2007 through intensive rehabilitation to avoid career-threatening surgery.
“I had two injuries, to my right shoulder, so I had to stop a little bit and again, my right shoulder hurt again, so a few years have been very tough for me. Now it’s perfect, it’s good. Finally I found a good coach and a good personal trainer. We work very hard in the last one year and a half so now you know, when you work hard, the results come.”
The last three weeks have been particularly rewarding for Zorzi, with a tie for sixth in Holland followed by a share of third place in Slovakia and she opened with two rounds in the 60s in Switzerland, before eventually tying for 22nd place.
Zorzi now lies in 28th position on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and is feeling positive about her game, as is Esterl.
