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SA golfer Lee-Ann Pace in first round lead at Women’s PGA Championship
Big weekend for pace at Royal Birkdale
South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace will be chasing her best finish in the British Women's Open after a solid second-round performance helped the Investec Cup for Ladies champion make the weekend at Royal Birkdale.
Lee-Anne Pace. File Picture: Shaun Roy / Gallo Images.
Pace opened with a three-over-par 75 to tie for 43rd, but a 73 on Friday lifted her to a tie for 34th on four-over-par 148.
The former Ladies European Tour number one erased a double bogey at the par-four third with birdies at the fourth and sixth to turn in even-par. She reeled in eight straight pars before a bogey finish at the par-five 18th.
Drawing on the experience of eight Ladies European Tour victories, Pace posted a career-best finish in the US Women’s Open with a joint 43rd place at Pinehurst Number Two last month and hopes to improve on a tie for 21st at Royal Birkdale in 2010 in the season’s third Major as well.
“I played very consistently and putted really well,” the Pearl Valley golfer said. “I’m still in it, but things can change very quickly on these Links courses.
“I’m feeling very confident, though, and I’m looking forward to a great weekend.”
Compatriots Stacy Bregman and Ashleigh Simon and US Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie all missed the cut, set at seven-over-par 151. It was a particularly frustrating break for Bregman, who missed by one after rounds of 76 and 75.
The reigning Zambia Ladies Open champion was flawless over the front nine, and was still in with a chance after bogeys at the 12th and 14th, but a double bogey at the 17th derailed her chances.
“I birdied the 18th, but it was still one shot too many,” Bregman said.
“I played really well, but I messed up towards the end and blew my chances.”
Simon responded with a superb even-par 72 after an opening 81 to finish on nine-over 153.
“I’m disappointed not to be playing this weekend,” the three-time Sunshine Ladies Tour champion said. “I played really well in the second round, but that 81 was my undoing.”
Meanwhile, two rounds of 69 lifted American Mo Martin to six under 138 and she will take a three-shot lead into Saturday’s third round.
Korea’s SoYeon Rye and Beatriz Recari from Italy are joint second, with Sun Ju Ahn from Korea and Julieta Granada sharing fourth on two-under 142.
– Sapa
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