November 11, 2021: A captain’s performance from Georgia Hall has given the Major-winner’s team a one-shot lead after Day 1 at the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah. 

 

Team Hall – the 25-year-old, her captain’s draft pick Maha Haddioui of Morocco, Diksha Dagar of India, and H.E Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chairman of Aramco and Golf Saudi, the fourball’s amateur player – carded an opening round of -19 to lead the $1million tournament, which follows last week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City.

Hall finished that event 13-under-par for her final three rounds – and in going bogey-free en route to a seven-under par 65 appears to have maintained that sparkling form into this week’s contest.

 

“Bogey-free is always a nice round here,” said Hall, who also shares the Day 1 lead in the tournament’s individual format, with Germany’s Olivia Cowan. 

“I tried to take advantage of not a lot of wind, and I still missed a quite few cuts, but I’m happy with -7.” 

Hall’s team-mate Diksha Dagar – who missed the cut at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International – wasted no time in making amends today, shooting an opening round 68.

 

Dakar said: “Today was very good in general. I had a very good start, and we have a very good team. We have a chance and tomorrow we can pick it up and continue playing good golf.”

In playing a key role in helping her team storm to the top of the leaderboard, Maha Haddioui became the first Arabic golfer to lead a Ladies European Tour event after its opening day.

 

“It was really fun playing as a team,” said Haddioui, a fan-favourite in Saudi Arabia. “I started pretty well but couldn’t keep it up on the back nine. But still, I made a few good pars when I needed to and had a few birdies on the front nine too, so it was nice.”

Sitting in second place is Team Carlota Ciganda, comprising the Spaniard, compatriot Harang Lee, Germany’s Leticia Ras-Anderica, and amateur Lee Seung Su.

 

“I’m enjoying being on this course,” said Ciganda. “The back nine was tricky. There was a lot of wind today and the last few holes weren’t easy, but we did great as a team – when one player was in trouble we had another in good shape. That’s what you want in this type of format. I had a great time with Harang, Leticia and our amateur and we’re ready for tomorrow.”

 

Olivia Cowan won the Aramco Team Series – London’s team crown back in July. In sitting joint-top with Hall with two rounds to play, the German could now end this year’s run of Series events with a solo win, too. Team Cowan also sit just three behind Team Hall.

 

Cowan said: “I think we just worked really well as a team. On some of the holes where one didn’t do as well, the other two helped out. We had quite a few birdies which definitely helped. Our amateur is really good to talk to and he’s really chilled out. We all get on really well, so it’s a good team. The most important thing is to have fun out there – and we’re having a good time, which makes us play well.”

 

The Aramco Team Series – Jeddah is the last of four new $1million team tournaments added to the Ladies European Tour this season and follows events in London, Sotogrande and New York. It continues Thursday and Friday.