England’s Meghan MacLaren carded a round of 68 (-3) on the North Course to have a one-shot lead on the second day of the Final Qualifier at LET Q-School.
The 27-year-old backed up her three-under on day one with a similar round rolling in five birdies and two bogeys to be a total of six-under-par at La Manga Club.
“It actually felt a bit trickier today not knowing that course,” said the two-time LET winner. “There are a few more interesting tee shots, and I didn’t feel quite as good with my game as I did yesterday, but I’m pleased with how I turned it into a good score.
“It wasn’t a grind – I wasn’t missing greens – but I was 30-35ft away a lot of the time. I had to keep my discipline and make sure I had my pace right on the greens and taking my two putts, because conditions were really tricky. It was nice to take my chances when I gave them to myself.”
In second place is France’s Manon Gidali, who fired the joint-best round of the day – a 66 (-5) on the North Course.
It was also a bogey-free round for the Frenchwoman, who finished 74th in the 2021 Race to Costa del Sol, and she was pleased with her day’s work.
“My putting was on fire, I hit it close on a couple shots and made the putts, so it seemed like a really easy day,” said Gidali.
“It’s been tough for the last two days, so I’m trying to be nice to myself and know that I’m going to miss some shots and not get too mad and stay in the present because it’s going to be hard for everyone.”
Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey continued her consistent form at La Manga with a round of 70 (-1) on the North Course to be T3 on three-under-par.
The 24-year-old started well with three birdies in her opening six holes, but dropped four shots around the turn, before rolling in three more birdies on her back nine.
“I got off to a hot start and was three-under, dropped a few shots on the turn then got some birdies to finish so it was very up and down,” said the Arizona State University graduate.
“The dropped shots came from nowhere and it was pretty bad, so it was nice to make a few birdies coming in because it was so windy on the back side as well.
“I’m pleased with how I handled that. I have been working a lot on my mental game for the last six weeks at home. I have a few things I want to work on before tomorrow.”
Mehaffey is in a share of third place alongside Moroccan amateur Ines Laklalech, who shot a bogey-free round of 68 (-3) on the North Course.
“I’m pretty happy with my round in these conditions, I’m not used to playing these conditions, so it’s been new and fun for me,” said the 24-year-old, who is from Casablanca.
“I had 18 greens in regulation so that helped a but, it was consistent, and I hope I continue that way for the rest of the week.”
Four shots off the lead on two-under-par are Swedish duo Linn Grant and Josefine Nyqvist, as well as Switzerland’s Anais Maggetti and Finland’s Emily Penttila.
German amateur Sophie Witt, plus American duo Gabriella Then and Allie White round out the top ten on one-under-par.
Scotland’s Laura Beveridge equalled Gidali’s efforts on the North Course and also carded a 66 (-5) to catapult her up to T39 on the leaderboard after a first round of 82.
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