Andrea Lignell takes a two-shot lead into the final day of the 2024 MoreGolf Mastercard Open at Varbergs Golf Klubb.
The Swedish player followed up her opening 64 (-8) with a steady round of 71 (-1) on day two in Sweden.
Lignell made a bogey on the fifth but immediately bounced back with a birdie on the sixth and she did the same again with a bogey on hole 10 and birdie on hole 11.
The 23-year-old rolled in her final birdie of the day on the 16th to sit at the top of the leaderboard with a score of nine-under-par.
“Obviously, yesterday was a day when a lot of things clicked for me in my game at once and it’s been a while since I was in that position,” said Lignell. “It can sometimes be tough to follow up since there are expectations.
“I just stuck to the same game plan as yesterday and tried to think of it as a new day and set myself new goals because sometimes it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. I was really happy with my game tee to green today, I just didn’t quite have the putting I wanted.
“I went straight to the range after my round and got some maintenance practice done before eating lunch. This afternoon I will finish up with practice and go home and try and occupy myself with something completely other than golf and then I am having my favourite food for dinner – Swedish west coast shrimps.
“I want to make sure I enjoy the moment and to not get ahead of myself. I’m really happy to be in the spot that I’m in and I’m excited for tomorrow. Getting the win would mean the world, especially being so close to home.”
England’s Billie-Jo Smith is in outright second place on seven-under-par after a second round of 67 (-5).
Smith made birdies on holes two, six and seven before dropping her first shot of the week on the 12th.
However, the Englishwoman made further birdies on the 13th, 15th and 18th to sit just two strokes behind Lignell.
“I holed a lot of putts today which was nice,” said Smith. “I feel like the past few weeks I haven’t holed much so it was nice to start seeing some go in.
“My approach play has been great, so I’ve been putting myself in good positions a lot. I birdied all of the par 5s today which helps. I reached the green on a couple and also hit some good wedges in.
“I would say the birdie on 13 was the best of the day with the pin position being back left, I hit a great shot to three foot and holed the putt.
“It does feel like I’m playing at home in a way with the style of the course, so I guess it has helped. It’s been a little windy too and I quite like playing in wind.
“Tomorrow I’m just going to keep to my plan for each hole and try doing the same thing I’ve been doing for the last couple of days and weeks. Hopefully, the putts continue to drop!”
Three players sit in a share of third place with Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjäll, Australian amateur Belinda Ji and Scotland’s Louise Duncan all on five-under-par.
It was a solid day for Arwefjäll who had four birdies and one bogey on her scorecard at Varbergs Golf Klubb.
“It is very nice to be back in a hot Sweden to complete,” said Arwefjäll. “As far as golf has been, I have played very well. Today I hit the ball very well, I just didn’t make any putts.
“I have been playing very good golf. Today was better than yesterday. I hit better iron and approach shots, so I gave myself a lot of birdie putts. Sadly I did have some three-putts and missed birdie putts, but I’m hopeful for tomorrow.
“I feel like I was closer to the pin today which meant shorter birdie putts and better opportunities. My plan is like always to hit a lot of fairways and greens and make some putts. It sounds boring but to give myself a lot of opportunities and to have fun on the course!”
Wales’ Lea Anne Bramwell is in sixth place on the leaderboard on three-under-par after rounds of 70-71 on the first two days.
Five players are one shot further back with Marta Spiazzi, Lauren Holmey, Filippa Sundquist, Alicia Olsson and Johanna Sjursen all on two-under-par.
The cut fell at +4 with 53 players making it through to the final day of competition. Round three will begin at 7.42 am (local time) with the leaders teeing it up at 11.06 am (local time).
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 #EnjoyTheGame.
