MILTON, GEORGIA, April 28, 2017 - Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Copenhagen, Denmark) holed out for eagle from the greenside bunker on the 18th hole to complete a 7-under, 65 on Friday in round one of the Epson Classic at Atlanta National Golf Club. She holds the 18-hole lead by one shot over Riverdale, Georgia native Mariah Stackhouse, Sophia Popov (Heidelberg, Germany) and Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington).
Madsen, who represented Denmark at the 2016 Olympic Games, was bogey free on the day with three birdies on the front nine. She ended the round with birdies on 15 and 16 before the eagle on 18.
“I hit my second on 18 to the bunker right of the green, which is really not a good position so I would have been happy with a good birdie chance,” explained Koerstz Madsen about the eagle. “I hit it really good and I saw it coming closer to the hole and it went in so that was good.”
Koerstz Madsen hit 12-of-14 fairways and 13-of-18 greens in regulation. She attempted just 25 putts.
“I didn’t make many mistakes,” said Koerstz Madsen, who was the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2015. “I never got myself in trouble off the tee and I made the putts I had to.”
Koerstz Madsen came over to the U.S. after two very successful seasons on the LET. She finished ninth on the Order of Merit in 2015 and sixth in 2016.
“I’ve enjoyed it here, it is nice to try and play the American courses,” said Koerstz Madsen. “I prefer this course because I like bent grass. I’m not really a fan of bermuda.”
Koerstz Madsen said that as long as she stays in the fairway, she likes her chances at Atlanta National.
She is in the U.S. for one simple reason.
“Now, I’m really focusing on getting an LPGA card so that is why I am here.”
Koerstz Madsen ranks 17th on the early season money list in just three starts.
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