Stavnar Takes Slim Lead After Tricky Opening Day in Slovakia
Las Vegas - Norway’s Madelene Stavnar carded a four-under-par 68 to set the first-round pace at the 2025 Ladies Slovak Golf Open at Gray Bear Golf Course in Tale.
Starting on the back nine, Stavnar stormed through her opening stretch with five birdies before adding another on her 11th hole. Three bogeys in five holes slowed her momentum, but she rallied with two more birdies and a closing bogey to take a one-shot lead.
“This game can be so funny,” Stavnar said. “I came here hitting it badly, but we found something yesterday. Every shot today felt like a fight. I just ran out of brain power towards the end.” Her father, a regular caddie since she turned professional, is on the bag this week.
This is Stavnar’s debut in Slovakia, and she has been impressed by the course. “It’s lovely. I’m a little scared of the bears, but I haven’t seen one. The greens are tricky and the bunkers are a no-go.” She has four LETAS top 10s this year and is balancing appearances on both the LET and LETAS.
Slovakia’s Katarina Drocarova, Finland’s Anna Backman and others are chasing. Drocarova, inspired by home support, sits one back after a 69, while Backman matched her score despite feeling unwell. Four players are tied on two under, including Slovak favourite Michaela Vavrova.