Hayley Davis
England’s Hayley Davis recorded a second successive -6 round, including a majestic hole-in-one at the fourth, as she stormed into an eight-shot lead on day two in the Bossey Ladies Championship. The 26-year-old has played 36 holes of scintillating golf and goes into the final day knowing a third solid round avoiding disaster should be enough to secure a maiden LET Access Series title.
Davis, the overnight leader, began the round in perfect fashion with birdies at the first and second holes to immediately increase her lead on the field. Five further birdies and a spectacular eagle followed and despite three dropped shot the English player’s attacking intent proved to be enough to move clear of the chasing pack.
“I was playing really well, playing with quite a lot of confidence, hitting it well off the tee. I know it’s a hard course, I have to really concentrate out there, every hole has a bit of something. But, I’m hitting it really well off the tee, so it’s put me in good positions. But, out there was a bit harder, the pins are quite tough, there’s a lot of putts on the slopes and some fast putts out there. So, I just played well – another solid day.”
Davis was joined on the course by mum Samantha, her caddie for the day, and was overjoyed to witness daughter Hayley hit a first career hole-in-one at the 171-yard fourth hole. The English player was equally elated with a perfect five iron into the wind landing six feet short, one bounce, and rolled in to the delight of the on-looking crowds.
“I started birdie-birdie anyway, so it was birdie-birdie-par-eagle. I’ve never made a hole-in-one so after that I said to my mum I was just ‘stay calm now’ because I was very happy that I made the hole-in-one. So, just another good day and in a good position for tomorrow and I just have to do the same again.”
Davis has sixth top-10 finishes on the LET Access Series this season including a lost play-off at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open and a third place finish last week at the Anna Nordqvist Vasteras Open. The Poole resident currently lies third in the Road to La Largue and looks set to move to first place with victory at the French event. With the season goal of finishing in the top-5 of the Order of Merit to secure an LET card, a win in Bossey will leave Davis in pole position to claim the elusive prize in this year’s Series.
The closest challenger to the runaway leader is France’s Emma Grechi. The Belfius Open champion carded a bogey-free four-under round of 67, following an opening day level par 71. Like Davis, Grechi reaped the benefits of having her mum out on the course as she exhibited some of the fine golf that saw the Frenchwoman secure a first LET Access Series title at the Belgian event earlier in the season.
“The key was to have fun because I love the course and I have my mum with me so just to have fun on this course. I holed some putts so it’s easier to play under-par and I didn’t make mistakes. So, it was a perfect day, and I hope it will be the same tomorrow.
I think I will play the same because I play well if I’m in this zone. If I play well it’ll be good and if it’s more difficult I’ll just have fun.”
Grechi lies tenth on the Road to La Largue standings and another strong round in front of a home crowd in Bossey should see the French player remain firmly in the mix ahead of the end of season event at La Largue.
The duo will be paired for the final round with Colombotto Rosso knowing something special will be required to overturn Davis’ lead and likely requiring a slip-up from the English player. Davis will be the huge favourite to claim a first victory on the LET Access Series and begins the day with an eight-shot buffer over her rivals at the pristine French course in Bossey.
