Sweeney starts slow in Morocco

Jaclyn Sweeney during a practice session at IMG Academies prior to the 2011 LET season. Photo by Paul Videla/Bradenton Herald

Bradenton resident Jaclyn Sweeney, originally from Andover, Mass., carded an opening round 75 at the Ladies European Tour's Lalla Meryem Cup held at the Soleil Golf Course in Morocco.

The 3-over par round places her in a tie for 36th, eight shots behind leader Kristie Smith, of Australia.

Sweeney made four birdies, but offset them with two double bogeys.

The former Arizona State University standout began on the back nine with an even-par 35 before disaster struck.

Sweeney doubled No. 1, which at a 4.52 scoring average, was the hardest hole on the course for the field in Thursday's first round.

The par-4 yielded just eight birdies out of the 126-player field.

Sweeney will get a crack at improving her play on the first hole right away, because she tees off No. 1 to open her second round.

Her Friday tee time is 8:50 a.m. local time.