Rossi Leads in the Azores

                                                            Anna Rossi

Joint overnight leader Katy McNicoll suffered in the second round of the Azores Ladies Open, which was played in very difficult conditions. The Scot scored a triple-bogey on the 8th hole after losing her ball, followed by a further eight more bogeys and two birdies dropping McNicoll in to a tie for 6th place with Ireland’s Danielle McVeigh. Currently lying 4th on the LETAS Order of Merit, a win this week would elevate McNicoll into the top-3 and closer to gaining her LET card for the 2013 season.
 
McNicoll’s second round allowed Anna Rossi to take the outright lead heading into the final day of the Azores Ladies Open, with 147, 3 over par, after a second round 74 (+2), characterised by four bogeys and 2 birdies.
 
“It was very hard because of the wind and rain, I’m glad I was strong but I struggled on the greens with four three-putts. I am confident, of course I want to win tomorrow and I see this tournament as a good preparation for the Qualifying School of the Ladies European Tour, “said the 26 year old Italian, who was 9th last year on the LETAS Order of Merit.
 
Rossi is now chased by another Scot Pamela Prestwell who shot a second round 74 to be 5 over par at 149. Prestwell is lying second on the LETAS Order of Merit and if she can win tomorrow, it will take her past the current leader, France’s Marion Ricordeau who took up an invitation to play in her national open this week.

19 year-old Portuguese amateur, Sofia Camara, shot a second round 78 to make the cut, which fell at 16 over par, 160.

The Azores Ladies Open continues tomorrow at 9.30 am at Golf De Batalha, with the final group teeing off at 10.50 am.