Australian Nikki Garrett made a final-hole birdie to retain her lead at the halfway point of the Tenerife Open de España Femenino at Golf Las Américas.
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After a career low 64 on Thursday, the 28-year-old from New South Wales started the day with a three shot advantage at eight-under-par and carded a second-round 73 in hot and breezy conditions to end seven-under taking a one stroke lead into the weekend.
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Garrett started with a double bogey on the par-four third hole after hitting her tee shot into the water but scrambled with three birdies against two further bogeys.
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She birdied the fourth but dropped a shot at the sixth. She then birdied the seventh but bogeyed the eighth for an outward total of two over par before regaining her outright lead with a birdie on the par-five 18th hole.
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“It was probably 100 per cent different to yesterday. I fought really hard out there today and I suppose that shows a bit of character because it could really have been anything today,” said Garrett, the 2007 Open de Espana champion at Country Club Mediterraneo.
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“My putting saved my life, pretty much, so I’m quite happy with a 73. A little bit different to yesterday but I’ll take it. I didn’t really hit anything close so the birdie putt on the last was probably the closest putt all day for birdie. It was good. It wasn’t good, but it was a good result in the end.”
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Garrett was surprised to be leading as England’s Laura Davies was eight-under when she teed off, but the Englishwoman triple bogeyed the last hole to slip back into a group at five under.
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rnGermany’s Caroline Masson (69), England’s Florentyna Parker (69) and French duo Joanna Klatten (69) and Celine Palomar (67) are just one back at six-under-par.
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Davies, the 2010 champion, shared sixth place just two shots off the lead with American Esther Choe, Australian Stacey Keating and Italian Sophie Sandolo.
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The defending champion, England’s Melissa Reid shot a 71 to end one under.
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Of the remaining Australian contingent this week, six out of the nine made the cut. Rachel Bailey (70) and Frances Bondad (74) are at one-under and share 22nd position, while Bree Arthur is a further shot back after a 70 in the second round and is tied for 31st position. Rebecca Artis was the final compatriot to make the cut, Artis is tied for 46th at one-over.
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A total of 63 players made the cut, which fell at two over par with many players now in a position to challenge for the title this weekend. Unfortunately Karen Lunn (+3), Alison Whitaker (+5) and Stephanie Na (+5) all missed out.
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