Johanna Gustavsson will take a one shot lead into the final round of the Ladies Open by Pickala Rock Resort after firing back-to-back 66s (-6) on a lengthy day in Finland.
After finishing her first round early on Friday following yesterday’s storm suspension, the Swede got straight to business when she made three birdies in a row on the 5th, 6th and 7th.
With Carmen Alonso leading the way ahead of her, Gustavsson then piled pressure on the Spaniard when she posted two more red numbers on the 11th and 12th.
She said: “We played until 22:00 yesterday evening and we were up early this morning finishing the first round so I didn’t sleep as many hours as I liked.”
A bogey on the 13th briefly halted Gustavsson’s momentum before two brilliant birdies on the 16th and 18th catapulted the 30-year-old into the lead on 12-under-par.
“I holed a lot of putts today,” she continued. “Yesterday I hit it a bit closer but today I rolled in more putts. I’m playing solid. One dropped shot. Very solid.
“I like the grass around here. It’s obviously very similar to Swedish grass – probably the same – so I enjoyed the chipping but it helps when the putter is also hot.”
One behind her is the before-mentioned Alonso, who produced another stellar display to fire a 69 (-3) despite bogeying her final two holes.
“I played really good,” the Spaniard said, who also eagled the par-5 8th for the second day in a row. “The front nine was four-under so I was very happy, but then on the back nine I finished with two bogeys that make me a little bit crazy, but that’s golf.
“The course is obviously for the long hitters. You can hit it everywhere and the ball is still going to be there. When you arrive to the 17th it’s a different course, maybe that’s why I made the two bogeys. But no, it was just two bad shots today and that’s it.”
Christine Wolf is in solo third after shooting 69 (-3) to take her total score to 10-under-par.
“I got off to a really hot start and made two birdies,” the Austrian said. “I only had one bogey which was a three-putt so I’m actually playing really well. The short ones didn’t go in today but the long ones did, so I feel like it evens it out.
“It’s going to be a nice group [playing with Gustavsson and Alonso tomorrow]. We all get on really well. I hope that I can build on the fact I’ve won before but two shots back is still two shots back so I need another low round tomorrow.”
Finland’s Linda Osala sits in solo fourth on nine-under-par after producing another solid display on home soil. England’s Meghan MacLaren is one shot back in fifth position.
Osala said: “I think it helps [playing at home] because it feels like you know the place. There’s no surprises around the course. It was so much fun and I appreciate that the fans are here. I feel lucky.”
Sophie Witt, Anna Magnusson, and Annabel Dimmock share a tie for sixth on seven-under-par. Linnea Johansson and home favourite Noora Komulainen round off the top 10 on six-under-par.
The cut fell at level-par with 62 players making it through to Saturday in Finland. The third and final round will begin at 8:45am local time tomorrow, with the leaders going off at 10:45am.
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