Another sunny but increasingly windy day at El Saler did not affect Sweden’s Emma Nilsson who was tied for the lead on -5 with overnight leader, Valdis Jonsdottir of Iceland, heading into the final round of the season-ending LETAS event in Valencia, Spain.
Nilsson shot 70, -2, to follow her first round -3 (69) and carded 4 birdies and two bogeys in the tough conditions. The Swede is enjoying the testing layout.
“I really like El Saler. The first nine and the second nine are very different, the first nine in the woods and the second nine by the ocean. There are sand wedge holes, but also some long holes. A great challenge with the wind.”
Nilsson, who turned professional in 2014 and had two wins in quick succession, has struggled at times this season on the LET Access Series.
“I’ve played well on the LET but not so much on the LETAS and it’s been an up-and-down year. I finished third in my last LETAS tournament, now I’m putting better and everything is more stable. I’ve worked a lot to play a steadier game and I think now I’m better, although I haven’t won since 2014.”
Overnight leader, Valdis Jonsdottir of Iceland made three bogeys and two birdies for her one over 73, -5 total, but struggled with her game in the second round.
“I didn’t hit my long woods very well, so I wasn’t hitting greens in two shots on the par fives, like yesterday. My putter was cold today and was very hot yesterday, so the putts weren’t falling. It was windier as well, especially on the back nine by the sea. It wasn’t terrible, but it affected me a little bit.”
A win, and the associated 5000 points, could propel Jonsdottir to 8th place on the Order of Merit and secure her Ladies European Tour card at the end of the season. She is, however, not banking on this route to the LET.
“I’m not thinking about the LETAS ranking because I’m still trying to secure my card on the LET getting to the top 80. I have four tournaments left on the LET and I need to have four good tournaments and this is a great preparation, because otherwise I would have a month off and that wouldn’t be good. My main goal, then, is winning, of course, and it would be my first win as a pro.”
Frenchwoman Ines Lescudier and Finn Sanna Nuutinen are sitting in a tie for third place on -1, four shots behind the leaders. Norway’s Tonje Daffinrud shot the low round of the day, 67, to take a share of 5th place with six other players, including the top Spaniard currently, Maria Palacios.
The final round of the 2017 LET Access Series is under way.
