After a classy showing in Thursday’s opening round at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, Leona Maguire struggled to make the most of it on day two.
The Cavan native began her round in an opposite fashion to Thursday’s early eagle – bogeying the first hole.
The birdies didn’t come as easy as Maguire made them look on Thursday, scoring only two – on holes nine and 10, ultimately settling for a one-under 71 that moves her to -6 overall and retaining a place inside the top 10 in a share of eighth.
Carding a five-over round on Thursday, Lauren Walsh battled on bravely but despite a four-stroke improvement, her tournament comes to a premature end and she won’t be around for the weekend.
30-year-old Nanna Koerstz Madsen had a round to remember, carding a six-under round to put the Dane right into the mix of things for the weekend as she sits in a share of second with Nelly Korda on -12.
“I think I just stayed in play most of the day and then made a couple putts here and there. I wasn’t really in any problems,” said Madsen.
Friday proved to be the Lottie Woad show, however, as the freshly turned professional turned in a seven-under round, climbing her way to the top of the pack heading into the weekend.
The 21-year-old is living up to her hype at the moment, leading to the belief that she can make a birdie from anywhere on the course.
A combination of Woad’s pinpoint iron accuracy – hitting 16/18 greens in regulation, alongside her lethal putting instinct allowed the rookie to shoot a 65, the best score of the day.
“Yeah. Happy with that obviously,” Woad said after posting -12 and taking a two-stroke lead into the final two rounds. “Bogey-free is always nice. Was just hit a lot of greens be hit a lot of fairways, and then holed a few nice putts.
“Yeah, the first nine was a little bit more windy and the back nine calmed down a bit which was nice; could really attack some of the pins.”
South Korea’s Sei-Young Kim closed out her round with a chip in eagle, making up for the bogey the 32-year-old made on the par-5 third hole as she sits on -9 going into the weekend.
“It’s pretty good because we teed off early morning. It’s windy and a little bit of rain and then cold weather. With the front nine I shot four-under. It’s a pretty good score with the weather… and the back nine is still under par; very happy with that score,” said Kim.
Sei-Young Kim wasn’t South Korea’s only shining light, as both Hyo Joo Kim and Ina Yoon sit just below the 12-time LPGA Tour winner at eight-under and seven-under respectively.
five-under on the day and seven-under for the week so far, Ina Yoon is enjoying her battle with the tough weather conditions in Scotland’s Dundonald Links.
“Actually, I don’t have much experience with this much wind and island golf course. There is one in Korea … I enjoyed learning what I’m not used to,” said the 22-year-old.
English hero Charley Hull ended a disappointing day with a bogey on the gettable par-5 18th as she carded a one-over 73, putting her at level-par after both rounds but the 29-year-old just squeezed into the weekend, beating the +1 cutline.
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