Rookies Lisa Pettersson and Ana Pelaez Trivino sit tied atop the leaderboard with a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Åland 100 Ladies Open by Alandsbanken.
Pettersson fired a six-under 66 in the second round on Friday, while Pelaez Trivino, the highest ranked player in the field at eighth on the Race to Costa del Sol, shot a 68 at Ålands Golf Club in Kastelholm, Åland. The pair stand at five-under-par after 36 holes ahead of Anne-Charlotte Mora, Sofie Bringner and Emma Spitz, who carded rounds of 70, 71 and 72 respectively.
Pettersson shot the first of her eight birdies on the second hole and added three more from the sixth to the eighth holes, before dropping her first stroke of the day on the long ninth, followed by another bogey on the 11th. She birdied four of her last seven holes to get into contention for her first win on the LET, a week after her career best finish of second at the Skaftö Open.
“It’s just fun to be up on the leader board. I’ve had a really tough season so I’m enjoying the moment,” said the 27-year-old from just north of Stockholm, who fired the best round of the tournament so far on day two. “I played really solidly today and didn’t make a lot of mistakes, so I’m happy. My irons were good and I made a lot of putts. I missed a few drives but that was on the holes where it was quite open so I didn’t end up in a lot of trouble.”
Living just across the Sea of Åland, in Sweden, she is a relative local and is enjoying her time on the island. “It’s quite cold and I feel like Autumn is really here, but I’m really enjoying it. It’s a great course and I have a great host family that I’m staying with,” she added.
Pelaez Trivino, who won the Comunidad de Madrid Ladies Open in May, bogeyed the first hole but carded five birdies from the third hole onwards.
The 24-year-old from Malaga said: “I’m very happy with today’s performance. I think this course is very tough, so getting a four-under is very positive for tomorrow. Overall, I stayed patient, hit some really good shots and was able to recover from my misses.
“The wind here can blow, especially by the sea and it can get really cold, so it can get tough out there. I’m loving it here, though. I told the volunteers that I’ve never been here before but I’m loving it. It’s a great experience. I just feel the love from everyone, so no pressure at all.”
A win by Pettersson would mark the third LET Rookie to win this season, following Pelaez Trivino, who won her first title at the Comunidad de Madrid Ladies Open in May and Linn Grant, who has won four times this year.
Mora, Bringner and Spitz are also looking for their first wins on tour, as are Anais Maggetti and Isabella Deilert, who are tied for sixth on two-under-par. Spitz, who made her professional debut last week at the Skaftö Open in Sweden, would have the option to take up LET membership were she to win tomorrow.
The eighth player on the leaderboard is Finland’s own Ursula Wikstrom, who has three runner-up finishes in this tournament and is four strokes off the lead on one-under-par. She is also looking for her maiden win in her 296th start and 19th year on tour.
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