Dec 2, 2016: Two-time Solheim Cup member Mel Reid (Loughborough, England) and 17-year-old rising star Nasa Hataoka (Ibaraki, Japan) share the 36-hole lead at LPGA Qualifying School sitting at 11-under, 133, following the first two rounds in Daytona Beach. Aditi Ashok improved upon her opening round performance to post 70 and climb 25 spots to T27. She made 73 in the first round.
Aditi Ashok have been aggressive this week. She made five birdies on the Jones Course, but also suffered six bogeys (three on each side) to sign on a 73. She was lying outside the top 50 at the end of Wednesday.
Thursday proved to be far better – playing on the Hills course Aditi Ashok took 36 and 34 on the two sides of her walk to climb up the order. The top 20 earn a full card to the LPGA Tour for 2017.
Conditions were calm on Thursday and that was reflected in the scoring as a total of 62 players finished under-par in round two compared to 37 in round one.
“I really have played much better than I expected,” Hataoka, who won a JLPGA major in October, admitted. “I’ve been putting very good and am really happy about it.”
Hataoka carded a 7-under 65 on the Hills Course while Reid posted the round of the week thus far with an 8-under 64 on the Jones Course on Friday.
“64 is always nice,” Reid said with a smile. “I thought I could’ve gone deep out there today. I feel like I missed two or three other chances easily. With the winds and stuff I was pretty happy. All in all I hit most of the shots that me and Benji discussed and I feel like my swing is in a good place.”
While Reid is happy to be tied for the lead, she knows she has more to accomplish this week.
“You can’t let off the gas in this,” Reid said. “I’m 11-under after two rounds but I’m not letting my foot off the gas. I’ve got a number in mind and I’m trying to get to that number if not past it. All-in-all I’m very happy with how I’m swinging it and how things are going.”
Helping the cause for Reid has been a laid back approach off the course.
“I tried to make this week as relaxed as possible,” Reid explained. “I know it’s a tough week and that it’s a bit of a slog but you just need to have a good environment around you. I’m staying at one of my friend’s place in New Smyrna which is awesome and we just go to the beach at night to try and make it as relaxed as possible.”
The duo holds a three shot cushion over Jaye Marie Green (Boca Raton, Florida), who sits in third place at 8-under par. Latvian Krista Puisite and South Carolina senior Katelyn Dambaugh (a) share fourth at 6-under, 138.
