Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt sits at the top of the leaderboard at the end of a suspended second day at the Ahlsell Trophy by Destination Jonkoping.
The 28-year-old shot an opening round of 69 (-3) and picked up where she left off by rolling in two birdies on her opening nine holes before play was suspended at 11:50am local time.
After play was resumed at 14:00pm Schmidt returned ready and composed, rolling in three more birdies on the back nine.
“Once we suspended, I just went out there to try my game. I didn’t have anything to lose and a lot to gain.
“I’ve come here during the LET break to see if what I’ve worked on the past couple of weeks with my coach has worked.
“I’m here to have fun and not really think about the score or what position I am. But often you do play well when you are having fun.”
Schmidt, who graduated from LETAS in 2022, admits if this tournament was in any other country she might not have entered.
“Sweden is one of my favourite countries. I’m absolutely in love with it. This week is great preparation for the Scottish and playing in rough conditions.”
Schmidt won the Big Green Egg Match play on LETAS in 2022, before going on to win the LET’s 2023 Belgian Open.
This season, the LET player has had her best finish in Sweden at the Dormy Open Helsingborg where Schmidt finished tied 10th. She currently sits 64th on the Order of Merit.
“Tomorrow, I just want to have a great day and maybe get a win. II would love it but I’m not going to push myself and put pressure on it. I’m not used to leading, when I’ve won before I’ve come from behind or in match-play.”
Five players sit in second on five-under-par: Italian amateur Alessia Nobilio, Spain’s Marina Escobar Domingo, England’s Megan Dennis, Scotland’s Jane Turner and Swedish amateur Lovisa Gunnar.
It was a slow start for Woburn Golf Club player, Megan Dennis, who after two bogeys didn’t see a birdie drop until the eighth.
At the turn, Dennis fired up the putter to card three more birdies including a spectacular one on the last to finish the round two-under-par, putting the 24-year-old on five-under-par total.
“Hole 18, I played it differently. Yesterday I hit driver and today I just knew it would be risky. Holeing that 25-foot putt for a birdie felt great.
Commenting on today’s tough conditions, Dennis said: “We really got away with it for a while. It wasn’t as windy compared to yesterday, it was still.
“Then the heavens just opened, and I kept it steady in the rain before we were called in.
“I was so eager to know when we would get out, I got a bit of a warm in and then just kept my game plan the same. I kept it steady.
“We’ll take it and hopefully do more of the same tomorrow.”
Dennis currently sits just outside the top seven in 11th on 436.73 points, so a win this week would be crucial for the Englishwoman to climb the ranks.
Italian amateur Alessia Nobilio also carded a flawless round of five birdies sit three shots behind the leader.
“It felt great. I played very solidly and made a lot of pars when I needed to. So, I’m proud of myself and the way I fought out there.
“This is my second LETAS event and I’m very happy to be here today.
“I just tried to stay calm when play was suspended and focus on what I was doing and having my parents here definitely helped.
Nobilio, who was the top female at the 2021 Roma Alps LETAS Open, a mixed event with the Alps Tour, is excited to be here this week with her dad on the bag after spending her season at UCLA.
“My dad hasn’t seen me play in so long because I just came back from the US. So, it’s been a great week together.
“This to me is just a massive learning experience. I’m happy with where I am right now and I will just keep learning from the other players, fighting and doing my best.”
Gunnar, who started her round after suspension carded a colourful round of six birdies, (four consecutive), two bogeys, one double bogey and an eagle on the last.
“That eagle felt amazing, my putt just wriggled in. I’m super happy to walk off with the score. It’s been a long day, but it was worth the wait.”
The University of Tulsa student, who plans to turn professional soon had her tee time delayed by over two hours but counted herself lucky that she didn’t get soaked.
“In someways I was lucky because I hadn’t warmed up yet and I just got to sit in the restaurant watching the Olympics.
“I will take it one shot at a time but I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
England’s Billie-Jo Smith, Denmark’s Natacha Host Husted and Spain’s Maria Herraez Galvez are all tied for seventh on four-under-par.
Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson sits in solo tenth on three-under-par.
59 players made the cut which stood at +3.
Round three will start at 8:30am with a shotgun start. The leaders will tee off from hole one at
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