Lauren Walsh’s hot streak continues and the Carton House touring pro is just four shots back in a share of sixth going into the final round of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open at Royal Beroun Golf Club.
After opening with a three-under 69, Walsh produced a sublime six-under 66 on day two, carding three birdies on the way out and another three on the way home to reamain bogey-free through 36 holes.
Still seeking her maiden professional victory, she’s just a shot off those tied for third, with Switzerland’s Kim Metraux leading the way on -13, one clear of England’s Esme Hamilton in solo second.
Sara Byrne began the day just a shot behind Walsh at -2 and, having made her first LET cut in four starts at last week’s Hulencourt Women’s Open in Belgium, made it back-to-back cuts made thanks to another round of 70. She kept all the fireworks for her final nine holes – the front nine – having made the turn at +1 on the day, and birdied four of the final nine despite making a bogey on the par-5 second.
The round of the day from an Irish perspective was that of Olivia Mehaffey. Having endured a torrid time that resulted in her losing her LET card for 2025 and making just one cut in her last nine starts on Europe’s premier women’s circuit, an opening round of 75 and a three-over tally suggested that she was going to extend that streak this week.
But a sublime seven-under 65 on day two where she made an incredible 10 birdies saw her come slicing through the pack and she made the cut alongside Byrne in a share of 50th and with a shot to spare as well.
Unfortunately, Canice Screene won’t be joining the trio in the final round. Despite a valiant fightback and birdies on each of her last three holes, she missed the cut by the minimum on -2.
Four back before the start of play, Swiss star Metraux lit things up from the get-go carding three birdies in a row at the 10th, 11th and 12th.
She would add two more birdies before the turn at the 16th and 18th to go out in 31, carding a sixth at the par-4 third to tie the lead.
With the sun beaming down on Beroun, Metraux, chasing a maiden win on the Ladies European Tour (LET), birdied her remaining par-5s at the fifth and seventth to storm into the outright lead before rolling in a ninth of the day at the par-3 eighth.
“This is the lowest round I’ve ever had,” the Swiss star said. “It was just one of those days where everything went really well. I didn’t really miss any shots or putts, to be honest. It was so nice. I gave myself a lot of opportunities and made the most of them.
“I’m really happy with how it went. I kind of lost track of what my score was, I just knew I went really low. I really loved it and hopefully I can have a day like that again.”
If you want to see Lauren in action alongside some of the best female players in the world, she’ll be in action at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open from July 3-6 at Carton House and you can GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
Leave a comment