Pernilla Lindberg from Sweden at La Manga Club on Friday

MURCIA, SPAIN, 18th Dec 2009 – Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg fired a bogey-free seven under par 66 to take a two stroke lead after the first round of Final Stage Qualifying School at La Manga Club in Murcia, Spain, on Friday.

The 23-year-old from Bollnas led the field of 84 players targeting a place on the 2010 Ladies European Tour after carding seven birdies in mild conditions on the South Course.

Lindberg was one of a group of 48 players who graduated from the LET’s Pre-Qualifying School, played over three rounds from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Oklahoma State University graduate, who still lives in the United States, birdied the sixth, eighth and ninth holes for an outward total of 34, before returning in 32 after birdies at holes 11, 13, 16 and 18.

“I am very pleased, especially because I came straight out of the pre-qualifier and I had a little bit of a rough day out there yesterday. I felt I lost my focus and had a rough round. It was nice to re-start everything today and start off this well,” said Lindberg, who had already earned her full card for the 2010 season on the US based LPGA Tour.

“It was nice because there was no wind so one less factor to count in. I think it was good conditions out there for scoring, for sure. There were just a few drops of rain out there at the end but nothing that really affected it.”

Lindberg played in 10 events on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this year, where her best finish was a tie for second at the iMPACT Classic in Richmond, Va. Her best score was eight under par.

“I had some low scores this summer and I got comfortable shooting low scores and I think that was a big thing for me,” she added. “The first time you start getting to five, six under, it’s tough, but if you’ve been there before it’s easier.”

Lindberg finished the day two ahead of South African Tandi Cuningham, England’s Claire Louise Aitken along with the United States pair Hannah Jun and Alison Walshe, all on five under 68.

Sharing sixth place on 69 were Sweden’s Johanna Lundberg, Spain’s Maria Hernandez Munoz and Colombian Maria Jose Uribe, who won the pre-qualifying tournament on Thursday.

This year’s Final Qualifying School will be contested from Friday to Monday, over four rounds, with a cut to the leading 50 players and ties after three rounds.

The top 30 players will receive a full card for the 2010 season in category 8, while those in positions 31-50 may take category 10a, with some playing opportunities on the LET in 2010.

After one round, scores were generally low at La Manga Club, with the leading 30 players all under par.