Booth defies pain to get off to a flier

slovak ladies’ open: Comrie’s Carly Booth is a shot off the lead after battling the pain barrier to fire an opening two-under-par 70 at Gray Bear Golf Club near Brezno.

“I left a couple of putts out there and hit a few shots I’m not happy with, but overall I was pretty pleased,” said the Scottish Ladies’ Open champion.

It was an even better effort given the 19-year-old had been struggling with an injury. “I have a throbbing pain in my left hip, so I need to go and stretch and relax,” she added.

Booth is among seven players tucked in behind joint-leaders Lucie Andre from France and Australian Bree Arthur.

Meanwhile, at the LPGA Championship in New York, Giulia Sergas of Italy, American Ryann O’Toole and Beatriz Recari of Spain share the first-round lead after shooting 69s.