Marie Fourquier
Belgium’s Fanny Cnops and Marie Fourquier of France are tied for the lead going into the final day at the Lavaux Ladies Championship in Puidoux, Switzerland. Cnops produced the round of the day, a six under par 66, to add to her opening 71, for a seven under par total.
Cnops’ best finish this season is a tie for 12th place at the Viaplay Ladies Finnish Open two weeks ago. The Belgian player had not been satisfied with her iron play leading into this event but felt that has been the key to her good performance over the last thirty-six holes.
“I hit it really well, my irons I was often inside fifteen feet so gave me a lot of birdie opportunities. Yesterday, I played well too but my putting wasn’t that great. Today, I just kind of made more putts and the birdies were coming more easily.”
Cnops finds herself in a position she has not experienced many times before. The 27-year-old led last year’s Benelux PGA Trophy, an event for teaching professionals, but it’s the first time she goes into the final day in the lead on the LET Access Series.
“I think just having fun and then really focusing on enjoying my rounds for the past two days and really sticking to my game plan. So I’m going to really try to stick to my game plan tomorrow and try to have a lot of birdie opportunities again and be patient of course.”
Fourquier, whose best finish on LETAS came at the 2017 Belfius Ladies Open, where the 27-year-old finished in a tie for 4th place, added a 68 to a first round of 69. Fourquier also finds herself in a position she may not feel that comfortable in but plans to try to enjoy the final day.
“I played very good today, my putting is very good. I made a lot of putts. The course is very, very good, the greenkeeper made a great job. In the beginning I was a little stressed because I’ve never experienced this position. For tomorrow I will try to do my best, enjoy it and see what happens.”
Three players are tied for 3rd place at five under par, overnight leader Emie Peronnin (72) of France, Norway’s Rachel Raastad (69) and local favourite Kim Metraux (69) of Switzerland.
Metraux has recently turned professional and is playing in just her fourth event on the LET Access Series. The 23-year-old first played in 2014 at the VP Bank Ladies Open in Gams, finishing in a very creditable tie for 11th position. She will be hoping to become the sixth first time winner this season.
“I’m pretty happy. I’m a little bit frustrated with my bogey on the last hole but I hit most of the greens and had a solid long game and made a few putts so it was a pretty good round today.”
“The key for me is just to not put too much pressure on myself because I have a tendency on doing that so just focus on hitting fairways and then hitting the greens and try and make some putts and see what happens.”
Forty-five professionals and two amateurs made the cut, which fell at +3, a total of 147. Play will begin at 8.30am tomorrow from both the 1st and 10th tees.
