Sweden’s Johanna Sjursen equalled the course record at Gambito Golf Calatayud with a sensational opening round eight-under-par 64 on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old mixed an eagle, eight birdies and two bogeys to hold a three-stroke lead over German duo Theresa De Bochdanovits and Lisa Marie Schumacher and Switzerland’s Tiffany Arafi (all 67) at the Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open on the LET Access Series (LETAS).
Going out among the first flight at 8.40am from the 10th tee, Sjursen went eagle-birdie-birdie on her opening three holes.
“The round started out great,” Sjursen said. “I made a four-metre putt on the first hole for eagle and I guess the ball thought the hole was a trash can today. It just kept dropping.
“I was four-under after three (holes), I three-putted the par-five 13th because I got there in two, then I made like an eight-metre putt on 14 and a 12-metre putt on 15 for birdies. I was just like, what is happening? Like this is crazy.
“The last couple of tournaments I’ve kind of been playing bad in the first round and then playing catch up the next two rounds.
“So, I told myself before the tournament, I was like, you just put your foot on the gas and try to play good from the start this time. And I guess I did.”
Sjursen added another birdie at hole 16 to make the turn at a whopping seven-under-par, setting a record low score across nine-holes, before improving to nine-under-par with birdies on holes 1 and 2.
She then went bogey-birdie-bogey from holes 6 to 8 which dropped her back into a tie for the overall course record.
Three other players have also shot 64 at Gambito Golf Calatayud, including Billie-Jo Smith (2024), Gemma Clews (2024) and Lucie Malchirand (2025).
“I think honestly after that front nine, I got a little bit scared,” Sjursen said. “It kind of died down a little but, I think I just got a little bit out of position. Right now, I’m hitting a big draw so my back nine today, or holes 1 to 9, it’s kind of all fade holes.
“It would have been nice to not make those two bogeys there towards the end. But overall, it’s a great round so I’m super happy. I shot 64 in April as well so to do it a second time is awesome.”
Sjursen is playing just her fifth LETAS event of the season, having made the cut at each of her past four events.
The Swede, who played the US Women’s Open this year, took a brief break after August’s Ladies Slovak Golf Open and played an Epson Tour event in September at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout finishing 66th.
“I’ve been doing like a little bit of everything, honestly,” she said. “Like the start of the year was so hectic for me. I was playing basically every week so I’ve been resting quite a bit.
“I went to the States and played a tournament there, and then now it’s just hopefully back to playing on the LETAS until Morocco (Q-School).
“I think for the next year, I’m going to play in Europe on the LETAS which I’m really excited for. Hopefully I play good in Morocco, and we can take it from there.
“I’m excited to finish off the season and then also to play in Morocco because I’ve never been there. So yeah, it’s going to be nice.”
Sjursen is sharing a room with a fellow Swede golfer this week, while receiving moral support over text messages from her parents and sister whom she keeps in touch with regularly.
“Everyone in my environment is so supportive and they just love that I’m doing what I love,” she added. “I think it’s great being around people like that.
“I told myself to keep the foot on the gas and try to play good, and that’s what I’m going to do tomorrow. We’ll see. I’ve never been in this position before so I think it’s a great learning experience to try something new.”
De Bochdanovits, who clinched her first professional title last week at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open, is among three players within three shots of Sjursen.
The German opened with a bogey on the par-5 1st hole, but steadied herself with six birdies on holes 5, 6, 9, 10, 13 and 17 to put herself firmly in contention for back-to-back wins.
Compatriot Schumacher went bogey-free with birdies on holes 3, 5 and 8 preceding an eagle on the par-5 10th to post her low round of 67.
Arafi made a red-hot start with four consecutive birdies from holes 10 to 13 before playing her back nine one-under-par.
“It was a good round, I started really well,” she said. “I tried to keep doing what I was doing after making four birdies in a row. I didn’t play here last year, but it’s a really nice golf course.
“I’m enjoying it, it has a lot of variation so it’s very interesting. I’m happy with my score today. We still have two more rounds, so we’re gonna try to keep doing the same thing and try to enjoy it like I did today.”
There are five players in a tie for fifth at four-under-par including Norway’s Silje Torvund Ohma, Australia’s Belinda Ji, Spain’s Clara Moyano Reigosa and Marina Escobar Domingo and Sweden’s Elsa Svensson (all 68).
Further down the leaderboard at three-under-par come Canada’s Ashley Chow, Czechia’s Lucie Vachova, Wales’ Gracie Mayo, Finland’s Anna Backman and Iceland’s Andrea Bergsdottir (all 69).
LETAS Order of Merit leader Lauren Holmey posted an even-par 72 to sit tied-36th, while second-placed Natalie Armbruester shot a one-under 71 to be tied-27th.
Round 2 of the Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open resumes at 8.40am on Thursday. There will be a cut to the top 45 professionals and ties.
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