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| Ashleigh Simon during her second round in the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open |
Quick quotes from Veronica Zorzi, Carlota Ciganda, Ashleigh Simon, Zhang Na and Holly Clyburn after the second round.
Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 65 68
Could you give us some highlights of your day?
It was a pretty good day. I hit 16 greens, so the long game was good. I had 30 putts, made two bogeys. One on number six, that was my 15th, because I went into the bunker with the drive and didn’t have a nice lie so had to chip out, play to the green and two putts. The other bogey on 15 was three putts but I was very far away from the hole.
I’m happy with my game. I still tried to concentrate on each shot and didn’t count my score. I was very focused like yesterday. I will try to do this and see what happens.
Do you think a two shot lead is comfortable?
You know, there are so many good players. With 18 holes to play anything can happen. If I can continue to play like this then we’ll see what happens on the last hole. I don’t want to put any pressure on myself. I just want to continue to play like this. Maybe someone can shoot 10 under, you never know. Golf is golf. I’m happy. After such a long time, it’s nice to be the leader again.
Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 67 68
Could you give us some highlights of your day?
It was a good day today. I did four under so I’m happy with my round and played good golf. I made some good putts at the beginning. I did three under over the first nine holes and made two very good birdies on five and six. I had a bogey on hole seven, which was my 16th hole, but I mean, I’m playing good so I’m happy to have a chance tomorrow to win again.
It was a shame that I had a bogey on my 16th hole because I had a putt for birdie and I three putted but I’m playing good, hitting good shots and happy to have a chance tomorrow.
Trailing, is it something to make you fight a little?
I’m just going to try to keep playing my game, playing one shot at a time. There are good players playing solid golf so it’s not going to be easy. Only one player is going to win this tournament so hopefully it can be me but it’s going to be a tough day tomorrow.
Ashleigh Simon (RSA) 65 70
Did you continue from where you left off yesterday?
I hit is just as good as yesterday, if not better. I hit 15 greens, the putts just didn’t drop. I hit a lot of good putts but they seemed to just lip out instead of going in. I had 31 putts today.
How were the conditions?
It was difficult to pick your target because you couldn’t see a lot today and you had to reassure yourself and just trust it. The course in general, there was no wind, so that didn’t play as tough as yesterday afternoon. The ball, when it’s hazy, just didn’t fly as well as yesterday.
Tell us about your season.
I had left hip surgery in January and came back in May. This is my 10th event of the year so if you had told me at the beginning of the year that I’d be 13th on the money list and being in contention a few times, I would have taken it. Overall I’m very happy and this is my last LET event of the year because I’m going to Q School so unfortunately I’ll miss India and Dubai.
Will you go for it tomorrow?
Of course. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve done the last two days. I’ve had the same swing thoughts and it’s just keeping my rhythm. I know when I swing it slower, that’s when I play my best so that’s what I’ve got to keep doing.
Your swing thought is what?
I’ve just got to keep my rhythm slower and I’ve shortened it at the top of my swing and that’s helped that last two days.
Did you enjoy playing with Jia Yun Li and Holly?
We had a great group. Holly and I played really well yesterday and she played good again today but didn’t hole anything this morning. She shot two under today so she was good to play with as well.
Zhang Na (CHN) 69 67 (through translation)
My short game was good and especially my approaches to the green. I did miss some putts. Since I’ve played the Sanya and Suzhou Opens together, I feel the atmosphere is more relaxed compared to the Japan Tour. On the Japan Tour there are more rules officials but I feel more relaxed and am enjoying this week.
Holly Clyburn (ENG) 65 72
You seemed to start well but just stalled with the double on the fourth hole.
I turned in level par with nine straight pars and made birdie on one and three. I then just made a double out of nowhere really. I drove it into the bunker on four and then put it into another bunker. I didn’t save myself so I just took that out of my mind and played the last five holes pretty solid.
I birdied seven but made a bogey on nine because I went a bit long and then a bit too aggressive with my chip shot but other than that I was pretty happy with the performance.
What was it like in the misty conditions?
It wasn’t easy. It was getting to the point where you were squinting quite a lot and you thought, is it this club or the club below? It did affect the shots and clubbing but it was okay. It did lift later on in our front nine and then it came back again. You just had to adapt and the sunglasses came out on the last few holes just to see if it could brighten everything up and it did.
Tomorrow will you be more aggressive?
Probably, because I’m trailing I will be more aggressive. After my performance today I do feel more confident off the tee. I’ve got nothing to hold back for tomorrow. I’m not the one in front, I can go all guns blazing tomorrow and the leaders can protect their score so I’m quite happy with where I am.
