Nicollet shoots even par, Smriti one-over in Munich

Munich: Sharmila Nicollet had an eventful first round with six birdies but still managed only an even par 72 in the first round of the UniCredit Ladies German Open near Munich today. Nicollet, who failed to keep her card last year and then came back through the LET Qualifying School, was five shots behind the English rookie Charley Hull, who is one of five players tied for the lead after the first round. Nicollet is lying tied 56th and Smriti is tied 71st. [caption id=“attachment_831803” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sharmila Nicollet made a solid start in Munich. AFP[/caption] The 17-year-old Hull, who has posted four runner-up spots in as many starts on the Ladies European Tour this season, shot a five-under-par 67 to sit alongside the 2011 champion Diana Luna, Denmark’s Line Vedel, Austrian Stefanie Michl and Frenchwoman Celine Herbin after largely dry but overcast day with occasional showers at Golfpark Gut Hausern near Munich. Nicollet bogeyed the tenth but found three birdies in four holes between 12th and 15th. But a bogey on first and double on second derailed her march. She recovered with three birdies but also gave away two more bogeys. Smriti had four birdies, three bogeys and one double bogeys. Hull, described as a ‘phenom’ by her mentor Tony Jacklin went to the turn in one-under but came storming through the leader board with four birdies on the back nine. She made birdie putts from 15 feet at the 17th and 18th holes, to tie for the lead and added: “I birdied the second hole so I felt like I got off to a fast start and then only made one more birdie on the front nine so I was only one-under coming into the back nine but made a few birdies towards the end to build up to a good score.” Four players ended a stroke back on four-under-par including Carlota Ciganda, Rebecca Hudson, Nontaya Srisawang and the 2009 event champion Jade Schaeffer. Last year’s winner Anne-Lise Caudal shot a solid opening round of two-under-par but the 2010 champion Laura Davies didn’t fare as well and shot 73. PTI