A strong showing from the Irish on Friday sees Anna Foster, Aine Donegan and Olivia Mehaffey into the weekend of the SA Women’s Open as all three posted under-par rounds to remain inside the two-under-par cutline.
Foster bettered her two-under-par first round with a three-under-par 70 on Friday, as the 24-year-old made four birdies around Royal Cape Golf Club.
The Elm Park woman made birdie at the par-4 first, before adding another at the par-5 seventh. The only blotch on Foster’s scorecard came at the par-4 12th where the Dubliner made bogey to head into the weekend in T23 on five-under.
One-stroke behind Foster is Ennis’ Aine Donegan. A somewhat chaotic front nine saw one birdie and four bogeys but the 24-year-old rallied well on the back nine, making a hat-trick of birdies between holes 12 and 14, before adding another at the par-5 16th. Donegan’s back nine efforts saw her post a one-under-par 72, to head into the weekend in T32.
Like Foster, Olivia Mehaffey bettered her first round score with a two-under-par Friday round. The 27-year-old made four birdies and two bogeys to post a 71, as she now sits T43 heading into the third round.
At the top of the leaderboard, Slovakia’s Pia Babnik posted a six-under-par 67 to take a three shot lead over the field.
Babnik’s second round saw nine birdies mixed in with three bogeys, as the 22-year-old looks to secure her third win on the Ladies European Tour.
“I played really well again today,” said Babnik. “I made even more birdies than yesterday but did make three bogeys. But that’s fine, that happens. Overall I’m very happy with my game.
“I’m just trying to enjoy it. It’s so much fun playing here at such a beautiful course in nice weather. That’s the most important thing.”
Babnik is relishing the idea of being the leader heading into the weekend.
“I’m just trying to keep on working hard and putting in the hours. I like setting the pace at the top. This is what I’ve been working hard towards. I’m excited to be where I am heading into the weekend,” she said.
England’s Cara Gainer sits in solo second place on 11-under. The 2025 Lalla Meryem Cup winner carded a five-under-par 68 – aided by a brilliant chip in on the par-3 15th.
After securing a career low round of 10-under-par in round one, it was a day to forget for 18-hole leader Patricia Isabel Schmidt as the German really struggled on day two, posting a three-over-par 76 to see her drop to T11.
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