Stacy Lewis outright leader after day 2 of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
World number three Stacy Lewis fired a superb second round of seven-under 65 on Thursday to break free of a crowded leaderboard going into the penultimate round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters being held the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The 28-year-old from Texas mixed eight birdies, four in each half, with the lone bogey on the par-3, 15th to reach nine-under, one ahead of Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg and two of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda with Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum occupying solo fourth on a six-under after a second round 70.
A good three shots off the pace overnight, Lewis made a confident start, picking up back-to-back birdies on the second and third and kept momentum rolling all the way through. The highlight of her brilliant charge up the leaderboard being four birdies in five holes from the ninth.
An unlikely bogey on the par-3, 15th stymied her bid to match the tournament record of a 63 posted by Dewi Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands last year, despite picking up another shot on the 17th with a 40-foot putt she rated as the best of the day.
Lewis said: “Putts went in today. I made a little adjustment on the practice green and it seemed to work. I made a couple of long ones that I probably shouldn’t have made and it turned out to be a good day.
“On the longer putts the grip handle was stopping, so I changed that. I think I had 10 or 12 fewer putts and that made the difference. I think I had 24 putts today instead of 33.
“The course played a lot shorter from the tee and most of the greens I could reach in two. The greens were firmer but I had shorter clubs. I have to keep going and take care of the business, but I prefer being where I am now to where I was last night.”
Sweden’s overnight joint leader Lindberg shot another solid of round a 69 to stay in the hunt for her first title in Dubai. “I started off with a 3-putt, but stayed patient for a while and finally those two birdies (on the 17th and 18th) steadied my round,” she said.
Defending champion Shanshan Feng, who suffered a disappointing opening round of a 76, staged a good comeback, shooting a five-under 67 to move into a tie for the 12th. “I am really pleased with my round. I only made one birdie on the front nine, but saved a couple of really good pars. On the back nine I was more relaxed, knocking the ball really close to the pins.
“I think we are very lucky, because the leaders are not very far away, so we still have chances. I knew Stacy was going to make a lot birdies here and she is doing it. If I want to catch her, I need to shoot even lower scores. My goal is top 5, so I’m still relaxed,” she said.
Among the notables, Laura Davies, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador, eagled her closing close to card a 71 to take a share of the fifth on a three-under.
Meanwhile, due to poor light, round two play was suspended at approximately 5.45pm and two groups, containing six players, will return to complete their second rounds at 8am on Friday.
The third round will begin at 10.40am and will be played from two tees in a U-draw format.
Leading round two completed scores:
135 – Stacy Lewis (USA) 70 65
136 – Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 67 69
137 – Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 67 70
138 – Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 68 70
141 – Diana Luna (ITA) 73 68, Vikki Laing (SCO) 71 70, Laura Davies (ENG) 70 71, Caroline Masson (GER) 69 72
142 – Sarah Kemp (AUS) 70 72, Valentine Derrey (FRA) 70 72, Charley Hull (ENG) 70 72
143 – Beth Allen (USA) 71 72, Cindy Lacrosse (USA) 73 70, Louise Larsson (SWE) 72 71, Sahra Hassan (WAL) 74 69, Shanshan Feng (CHN) 76 67, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 72 71, Mireia Prat (ESP) 67 76
144 – Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 71 73.
