Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn has grabbed a two-shot lead at the Lalla Meryem Cup after carding a four-under 67 in the second round. The 17-year-old moved into six under at the Ladies European Tour event, holing five birdies and a bogey at Golf du l&aposOcean in the Moroccan city of Agadir on Friday. Jutanugarn will go into the weekend sitting two shots clear of Americans Beth Allen, Mallory Fraiche, South African Lee-Anne Pace and Englishwoman Charley Hull. Jutanugarn initially feared the course would trouble her but has warmed to it and is eager to mark her impressive start with a win. “The first time I played the practice round I thought the course was very hard and I thought the fairways were too narrow for me, but now I&aposve played the first two days, I feel like it&aposs a lot better,” she said. “I was here last year and I like Morocco. My dad says it&aposs very far from my house but I have to come. Morocco is very nice. I want to do my best and win the tournament.” Hull, also 17, managed three birdies and two bogeys in her one-under 70, while Allen, Fraiche and Pace all produced 68s. Norwegian overnight leader Marianne Skarpnord dropped back to even par, following up her five-under 66 with a poor five-over 76. England&aposs Laura Davies and Swede Mikaela Parmlid are at three under, a shot clear of a group of six. English duo Melissa Reid and Holly Clyburn, French pair Celine Palomar and Valentine Derrey, American Katie Burnett and Australian Sarah Kemp are all part of the group. Australian defending champion Karen Lunn made the cut but is a long way back at three over after rounds of 72 and 73.
Author: Omnisport