Olivia Mehaffey bounced back from an early double bogey to lie just two shots off the lead after the opening round of 72-hole pre-qualifying for the Ladies European Tour Q-School in Spain.

Teeing it up as a tribute to her father Philip, who passed away just last Friday after a long battle with cancer, the former Curtis Cup star (24) fired six birdies in a 71 on the South Course at La Manga to share third place on two-under-par.

Scores

"Philip said to the doctors and nurses with typical humour just last week that they were to 'make sure that girl goes to Spain'," explained former Irish National Coach David Kearney, who is now part of Mehaffey's management team at Sigmoid Sports.

Mehaffey finished the day well inside the top 75 and ties who qualify for next week's five-round Final Stage at the same venue, where the top 20 and ties will be awarded full tour cards.

"It was quite solid," said Mehaffey, who lies just two shots behind Sweden's Lisa Pettersson, who shot a four-under 67 on the North Course to lead by a shot from French amateur Yvie Chauchepra. "I hit a lot of greens and had a lot of chances."

While she double-bogeyed her second hole (the 11th), Mehaffey birdied her third, fourth and seventh to turn in one-under before mixing two bogeys with three birdies coming home on what would have been her father's 60th birthday.

"I didn't putt overall amazing, but I just put the ball in the right places, and it was simple golf," the Co Down star said. "They are both great courses, and it is great fun to get to mix it up this week and play both."

Clandeboye's Victoria Craig (24) was just inside the top 75, tied for 71st on four-over after making five bogeys and a birdie in a 75 on the North Course.

Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell will be looking to end a disappointing 2021 on a high by clinching an elusive win alongside Canadian Corey Conners in the QBE Shootout at Tiburón Golf Club in Florida.

McDowell has racked up three runner-up finishes in the $3.6 million, 12-team event, finishing second in with Darren Clarke (2010), Shane Lowry (2017) and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo (2018).

Harris English and Matt Kuchar defend the title with LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson teeing it up with Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter partnering European Ryder Cup teammate Lee Westwood.

The event begins with a scramble today, followed by scotch foursomes tomorrow and fourballs on Sunday.
QBE Shootout PGA Tour, Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf (17:00)