Spain’s Elia Folch carded a second round three under 69 to claim the outright lead on five-under-par at the Anna Nordqvist Vasteras Open. The 28-year-old already has two top-10 finishes on the LET Access Series this year and Folch will be hopeful of taking the top prize after a second low score in succession following an opening -2 round of 70.
Folch only dropped one shot throughout the round and added four birdies which saw the Spaniard finish with a one-shot lead heading into day two.
Despite difficult weather conditions on the second day at the Swedish course, England’s Cloe Frankish and Russia’s Nina Pegova played some terrific golf to move into a share of second in Bjarby; the duo finished the day on -4 for the tournament.
England’s Cloe Frankish followed up a strong -1 opening round with a superb three under 69 on day two at Vasteras. The 19-year-old had a solid start, tackling the tricky back nine first, but had a blistering finish to her round with birdies on holes one and two, and the Kent golfer added two further birdies on the front nine before dropping a shot on the tricky par-3 ninth to finish her round.
“I started with a bogey, and then just made pars on the back nine. The back nine is quite tough, quite a few long holes where I had to hit a rescue club into a few par fours. Then on the front nine, I birdied the first and second which were good birdies… but I really should have birdied more, I missed little six foot putts.”
Frankish was leading the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge last week before slipping up in the final two rounds. This week, the Englishwoman appears extremely focussed on maintaining her form throughout the 54 holes at the Swedish resort.
“I feel good, the old me is coming back. Last week I was leading after round one, this week after two rounds, so hopefully the third!”
Viaplay Ladies Finnish Open champion Nina Pegova also ended the day on -4 for the tournament after a stunning -5 round of 67 on the second day at Vasteras. The Russian putted magnificently throughout and recorded six birdies over the course of the round.
Pegova currently lies in ninth position on the LET Access Series Road to La Largue standings and looks poised to secure a third top-10 finish of the season and potentially a second victory if she can repeat her second round performance on the final day in Sweden.
Swedish amateur Maja Stark moved into contention on -3 for the tournament after day two. Stark was even par after the first eighteen holes on Thursday and recorded three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 fifth on her way to a three-under 69 in Bjarby.
The home favourite finished in a stunning second place at Vasteras in the LET Access Series event in 2018 and proved the result was no fluke with another stellar showing on the Swedish course.
Overnight leader Nobhule Dlamini struggled on day two with a five over par 77 seeming ruling the 27-year-old out of contention for the Vasteras crown. The Swaziland player had a terrific opening nine holes, with no dropped shots and a birdie on the fourth, as she reached the halfway mark -4 for the event. The back nine was a different story for Dlamini with six dropped shots including bogeys on 16 and 17 and a double bogey on the final hole.
The players will hope for more favourable weather conditions during Saturday’s final round with high winds a major factor on the second day at Vasteras. However, with similar conditions expected there is all to play for with day two’s risers and fallers showing that anything can happen in the final day’s play.
