Cara Gorlei sits at the top of the leaderboard on five-under-par at the halfway stage of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
The South African was in a share of the lead overnight after shooting an opening 69 (-4) but had a trickier second day at Vipingo Ridge.
Gorlei began her second round on the 10th tee and started off hot with three birdies in her first four holes before making a double bogey on the 14th hole.
The 27-year-old then dropped two more shots with bogeys on 16 and 18 but found momentum after the turn with three birdies on the trot.
She then made a bogey on seven to seal her round of 72 (-1) and give her one-shot lead at the 36-hole mark in Kenya.
“Today was definitely tougher than yesterday I found, but I somehow managed to put in a good score after some good runs and bad runs during the 18 holes,” said the leader.
“I started birdie-birdie-par-birdie and got off to a hot start, then I had a nice little four-putt so that set me back a little bit. I came in pretty slow and then to start the back nine, I had another three birdies in-a-row, so that was great. But then again, I came in really slow. My putting was very hot and cold.
“It took me a while to get over the four-putt, that’s why I slowed down but once I started the new nine, I thought let’s get something going here. You have just got to put it in play on this course and I didn’t do it as well as yesterday, but I’m still happy with the under-par round.”
Nataliya Guseva sits in second place on the leaderboard on four-under-par having produced a round of 70 (-3).
The Lalla Aicha Q-School winner had an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys on her scorecard on day two.
“I would say it was pretty good,” she said. “I’m taking it hole-by-hole here because there’s so much wind and it’s such difficult conditions for us playing in winter but it actually being like summer. It’s pretty hot out there, I’m trying to stay in the moment and get out there and have fun.
“This is a very tight golf course with very unpredictable greens, and you have to be really in the moment and don’t let yourself down and trust yourself and trust your game and really get going.”
Four players are in a share of third place with Japan’s Ayako Uehara, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, Singapore’s Shannon Tan and Italy’s Alessandra Fanali all on three-under-par.
Uehara, who is the oldest-ever rookie on the LET, produced a round of two-under to move herself up the leaderboard.
“I had a bad score at the eighth hole, but the other holes I think were pretty good with the wind,” said the Japanese player. “I played ten years on the JLPGA and then I moved to the LPGA, and I decide to come to the LET for this year.
“When I saw the LET schedule, I was so surprised because there are a lot of countries that we’re going to. I’m very excited about it and this is my first time in Kenya, I have seen a lot of wild animals. I also like to play different golf courses in different countries and see a lot of people and I’m enjoying it at the moment.”
Tamburlini, who is a two-time winner on the LET Access Series, had four birdies and two bogeys on her scorecard.
“I mean it’s been pretty solid; it’s been tough out there for sure,” said the Swiss star. “The wind is really picking up in the afternoon and on the back nine this morning as well.
“I’m really happy overall, it was a grind yesterday. I wasn’t striking the ball well, but I kept myself in it and fixed a couple of things overnight and I was hitting the ball really solid today. It’s so much fun and it’s great to be back playing golf again.”
One shot further back, there are also four players in a tie for seventh place with Sweden’s Ellinor Sudow, Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, Germany’s Alexandra Försterling, and Samantha Bruce of the Philippines.
It was an excellent day for Bruce, who carded the round of the week so far with a bogey-free 68 (-5) on day two.
Bruce explained: “I’m just very grateful to have my first start on the LET especially with not making the top at Q-School. I wasn’t really sure when my first event would, so first of all I’m very grateful to about here.
“Essentially, what I have been thinking about the past two days is making the most of the opportunity that I have. The first round wasn’t too great, I was right on the cut line coming into today and all I thought was anything could happen so make the most out of it and enjoy it as well because who knows when my next event will be?
“I made more fairways today than yesterday and I’m happy I did because I think that helped me make five-under. Being in the fairway helped a lot, but the best part of my game today was my irons and my approach shots. I gave myself a lot of chances for birdies.”
At the end of the second round, the cut fell at +6 with 67 players making it through to the final two days of competition.
Follow all the action @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame #MLKO2024
