German amateur Helen Briem brought her “A” game to the second round of the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge at Panorama Golf Resort.
After carding level par on Friday, today the teenage star, who started on hole 10, showed she meant business after a birdie on the first.
Continuing her fine form, Briem had a faultless front nine with two more birdies on sixteen and eighteen.
At the turn, the two-time Ping Junior Solheim Cup star showed no signs of slowing down with consecutive birdies on the first and second. On her 17th hole Briem carded her only bogey of the day to finish four-under-par.
Speaking about her spectacular second round, Briem said: “Today started easy as there was not much wind, and the pin positions were easier than yesterday.
“Yet on the back nine the wind change. It was very tough and swirling all the time.
“Playing a par five uphill with wind from the front is a challenge. Towards the end it got difficult to judge the wind.”
Briem is searching for back-to-back wins this week after winning the Montauban Ladies Open.
The week before, the fourth ranked amateur in the world lost out on an LET win at the Dormy Open Helsingborg in a playoff.
“I’ve had my dad on the bag the past few weeks and it’s worked out very well, there’s no other option now. I really enjoyed it out there with him today as always.”
If Briem secures her second title tomorrow, she will become the fourth player in LETAS history to win two titles consecutively.
“After the last two days we will see where I’m at by the end of the day but obviously I want to win again.”
Three shots behind lies France’s Ariane Klotz. Starting on 10, she came out of the blocks strong with a birdie before carding three bogeys on holes 12,13 and 15 before another birdie putt dropped on 16.
On her back nine, Klotz kept calm and carded nine consecutive pars to put the rookie in the final group for Sunday.
“It’s exciting to be in the leading group. I kind of fought with myself out on the course today in the tougher conditions.
“I thought I hit the ball better than yesterday, but I just couldn’t manage to find the right speed on the green.
“But if all that has put me in the final group, that’s exciting. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Klotz currently sits eighth on the LETAS Order of Merit after a top five position last week at the Montauban Ladies Open but is vying to climb the rankings.
“A win would mean a lot; this is my first year as a professional. Obviously, my goal is to finish top seven, and a win could help that by giving me confidence and street cred.”
Australia’s Stephanie Bunquee, Netherland’s Nikki Hofstede and England’s Billie-Jo Smith sit in tied third on par. Smith was the only player to card an eagle.
Smith explained how it happened: “With the eagle on twelve, I was quite far down with my drive, but it was still 250 yards with slope, so my aim was to go short of the green and give myself a birdie chance.
“I hit a good three-wood, the girls were actually still on the green as I wasn’t expecting to hit it that far, then I managed to hole a 12-foot putt.”
Overnight leader Hanee Song, Swiss amateur Victoria Levy, Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall, Klara Sionkova are tied for sixth on one-over-par.
71 players made the cut which stood at +11. The final round will commence at 8:00am local time with the leaders going out at 10:12am.
Follow all the action throughout the tournament on the LETAS social media channels – @letaccess on Instagram, X, and Ladies European Tour Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #Access2Let #ACLC2024
