Spain’s Noemi Jimenez Martin signed for a second round of even-par 72 to put herself in the lead on -2 with one day to go at the Rose Ladies Open.
After an opening round of two-under 70 on Friday, the 28-year-old’s patience in the windy conditions paid off as she carded 14 pars en route to the top of the leaderboard where she found herself early in her round.
Jimenez Martin had seven consecutive pars followed by back-to-back birdies on holes eight and nine to make the turn in 33 strokes and go error-free on the front nine in both rounds.
“I tried to play similarly on both nines, but I think it’s a little bit easier on the front, especially after the fourth where I had two good shots yesterday and today, so I was more confident after that. I left myself a couple of birdie chances and I holed them so yeah it was pretty good.”
The Marbella native, who is close to securing the second LETAS title of her career added one bogey on the 11th and another one on the final hole to finish the round at level-par and be the only player in red numbers after the completion of day two.
“It was very similar to yesterday. Obviously, the conditions were tougher and I had tricky shots today especially when it was into the wind but I managed to save most of the pars.”
Jimenez Martin has been competing on Tour since 2016, won her first LETAS title at the VP Bank Ladies Open two years later, and currently sits in 12th on the LETAS Order of Merit.
“It feels good to be at the top because I struggled a lot last year, so I had to come back from the bottom and I’m really proud of myself.
“I just told myself to stay in the present and to go little by little, step by step and I know how golf is, I know that the line is really thin, but I also know if I keep on doing the same thing I can be up there again.”
Australia’s Kristalle Blum signed for a round of one-under 71 today to be in a tie for second at level par with Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer and England’s Eleanor Givens whom both carded two rounds of even-par 72 each.
Dutch amateur Lauren Holmey, Sweden’s My Leander, and Czechia’s four-time LETAS champion Sara Kouskova all share the fifth spot at one-over-par.
Spain’s Maria Herraez Galvez fired the round of the day of three-under 69 to share the eighth position with Norway’s Tina Mazarino, Morroco’s Lina Belmati, Italy’s Erika De Martini, and England’s duo Lianna Bailey and Amy Taylor at two-over-par.
A total of 48 players made the cut which was set at +8 after round two.
The final round goes underway on Sunday morning at 8:00 with the leaders teeing off from the first hole at noon.
Follow all the action @LETAccess on Instagram and Twitter – #RaiseOurGame.
