22 February 2019: At the halfway stage of the Australian Ladies Classic, Nuria Iturrios emerged with a four stroke lead with yet another polished round of golf. Diksha Dagar suffered a 77 in the second round, at 4-over 148, safely through to the money rounds. Tvesa Malik worked her way inside the field, adding a 74 to the first round 75, to move into the weekend. The three other Indians in the field missed the cut – Amandeep Drall (80-76), Astha Madan (77-80) and Vani Kapoor (79-79).
Iturrios (69-67) is blemish free for a second day running, the only woman in the field not to have conceded a bogey to the Pacific Bay Resort course.
“36 holes with no bogeys. I’m feeling so good! I’m feeling comfortable with my game, so let’s see. Hopefully 36 holes more.”
She has changed her swing over the winter to hit a lower shot, which helped her to control the ball in the wet and blustery conditions.
“I made three or four birdies in that wind, so I’m feeling so great. I’ll just keep hitting those low balls,” she said.
“I love to be in this position. Finally I have the cameras around me again! I’m going to have some mango sticky rice tonight and sleep well.”
Amateur Doey Choi, the first round leader with a 66, slipped to a 74 and second behind Iturrious. Aussie golfer Hannah Green was in the third spot after making an even 72 on Friday. At 2-under, a stroke behind Green, were Madelene Sagstrom and Marianne Skarpnord who shot 74 and 72 respectively. Keeping those two ladies company are Jenny Haglund (73) and Linnea Strom (70).
“It was really windy out there, so I’m pleased with my score today. When you’re out there, it feels like you’re the only one, but I think I did a good job in holding it together and I think I did really well out there today,” said Choi.
On playing in the last group with Iturrios and Green, she said: “I think I’ll be a little nervous but it’s not my first time in contention so I’ve just got to block it out and play my own game.”
Silvia Banon (72) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (71 are in T8 at one under 143. Rounding off the top ten after 36 holes are Nicole Broch Larsen (69) and Daniela Holmqvist (76), both women even with the course.
Tvesa recovered from a bogey at the par-4 second hole with an immediate birdie at the 182-yard par-3 third hole. Bogeys at 11 & 14 punctuated an otherwise serene march through the rest of the round as Tvesa went on to secure her presence for the weekend.
Diksha reached the eighth tee box without any damage, looking well set to consolidate her position inside the top ten. But she conceded six bogeys between the 8th and 17th, dealing in pairs each time to slip down the order. The silver lining came in the form of a lone birdie on the 18th hole.
