Lauren Walsh has set her sights on winning on the Ladies European Tour as she looks to burst onto the scene in her rookie season.
Walsh is in a good position at the halfway stage of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open and trails Cara Gorlei by three shots heading into the weekend, having slept on a share of the overnight lead.
The Castlewarden woman carded a bogey-free 69 to co-lead on four-under but the weather and the going got tough for her in round two but she battled valiantly to salvage a 75 which leaves her on two-under and in a share of 7th place.
“Today was definitely more of a rollercoaster, tougher conditions with the wind. It’s been windy here all week but was playing tough out there today,” the 23-year-old said.
Walsh started well and was one-under for the day through six holes before a bogey, double bogey run to the turn halted her momentum as she completed the front nine in 39. She hung in with birdies on 11 and 16 which cancelled out dropped shots on 13 and 18 in the blustery conditions.
“Started out pretty solid and hit two balls in the water on 8 and 9 which put a dent in the scoring but bounced back from it and then coming down the stretch the conditions made even putting difficult. I’ve played pretty solid overall, I’m pretty excited, to be in contention is always exciting.”
Walsh graduated from Wake Forest last summer after enjoying a glittering amateur career with Curtis Cup and Augusta National Women’s Amateur appearances as well as helping Wake Forest to their first ever NCAA title where she secured the winning point.
The Kildare woman earned category 16 status at LET Q-School in Morocco in the winter and with dreams of joining Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow on the LPGA Tour, winning on the LET is an immediate objective.
“I set out at the start of the year that winning on the LET was a big goal for me this year so to be in contention the first event of the year is good and shows my game is in a good spot. I take a lot of confidence from that and I’m excited for the weekend.”
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