Stephanie Bunque produced a resilient fightback at the Hulencourt Women’s Open rebounding from an opening round 78 (+6) to fire back-to-back cards under-par and move inside the top-20.
The Australian, competing in her first season the Ladies European Tour (LET), failed to make a birdie on the first day in Belgium as she dropped six shots to sit T103 following 18 holes of action.
Admitting she was looking at new flights home with a missed cut on the cards, Bunque would rebound brilliantly on Friday firing a round of 70 (-2) to move inside the cutline and make the weekend by a single shot.
The form would continue on Saturday at a windy Hulencourt Golf Club as the Australian matched the round of the day 69 (-3) to surge up the leaderboard once more moving into T16 on one-over par. Compatriot Kelsey Bennett leads the way on 10-under par holding a two-shot advantage over Spain’s Carolina Chacarra.
“My game has sort of been this way for the past six events,” Bunque said, who has missed her last two cuts in Europe. “I’ve felt like it’s been so close but the results have been trending in a different direction, so it’s a little confusing. The last couple of rounds, I felt a little more confident off the tee. I tried to back myself and realised that the mistakes were coming from my head. It had nothing to do with my swing or technique. It was all a mental thing.
“Yesterday I worked hard to trust myself. I was already missing the cut so I really had nothing to lose. That proved to me that it was there and it was all a mental thing. I was looking at changing my flight to go home. The last 36 holes I played with a bit more of the aggression I know I have.”
Bunque currently sits 66th on the LET Order of Merit in her rookie season on the circuit. She has played in nine events so far recording a top-10 finish at last month’s Jabra Ladies Open de France and top-20 finishes on home soil during the Australian swing back in March.
The 28-year-old is hoping for a strong Sunday in Belgium before heading back Down Under for the remainder of July.
“I really wanted to put a result in this week and leave my first Europe trip on a good note,” Bunque said. “I’m doing that so far and hope to continue that in the final round. I’ll be going home [to Australia] on Tuesday. I’ll be back for a month and come back before the PIF London Championship. I’ll be moving into a new apartment so I’ll be spending a lot of time sorting that but will definitely still be on the course working hard.
“Same thing tomorrow. I’ve proven to myself that having that free mindset really does allow you to visualise things a little easier. I’m not completely in contention so I really have nothing to lose and all to gain.”
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