Lucie André took a one stroke lead at five-under-par after a tough second day at the Dinard Ladies Open.
The 22-year-old top ranked French amateur added a two-under-par 68 in windy conditions to her opening 67 to finish one stroke clear of her overnight co-leader, Jade Schaeffer, 23, also from France.
André’s score – which included four birdies and two bogeys – was the best of the day at Dinard Golf in north-western France. Schaeffer’s one-under 69 was the second best along with that of French amateur Laure Castelain, who finished on six-over after two rounds in a share of sixth place.
Denmark’s Julie Tvede finished the second round five shots back in third place at one-over with the Terre Blanche Ladies Open winner Caroline Afonso of France a shot further adrift in fourth. French amateur Morgane Bazin de Jessey finished the day in fifth place.
André (pictured) is said to be a mentally tough competitor who just goes about her business. She is aiming for the LET’s Qualifying School at the end of the year, but she will be able to bypass the gruelling contest should she win the LETAS order of merit.
Since her podium finish last year at Dinard, nothing has changed in her athletic life. She is still at the “Pôle France” in Toulouse with her coach Karine Mathiot. However, she has learned more about professional life by playing in three LET tournaments, where she made two cuts. This year she hopes to play in five LET events, thanks to her strong results recently.
After her first round on Thursday, she said: “The wind didn’t bother me that much. You could only feel it on a couple of holes. I don’t really like this type of course. What I like are inside park golf courses. In fact I don’t know why I’m playing well.”
At the end of the second round 38 players survived the cut with 13 of those being amateurs.
