24 January 2020: After a tough opening round in Boca Raton, Florida, golf returned to its benign self on Friday. With overnight leader Jessica Korda (73) unable to press home her advantage, Madelene Sagstrom took control with a sanguine 62 for a two-stroke advantage at the halfway stage of the Gainbridge LPGA. Nasa Hataoka and Jennifer Song ended the day at 8-under behind Sagstrom, leaving Carlota Ciganda the lone woman with an opportunity to narrow the lead. The Spaniard inched ever closer, a birdie at the par-4 7th hole helping her to within one stroke from the leader, with only two holes remaining to be played. That is where she closed, one ahead of Cydney Clanton, Hataoka and Song.
Aditi Ashok shot an even 72
Aditi Ashok battled through for an even 72 despite three bogeys in a bid to work her way back, but the opening round 77 left her with no margin for recovery. The cut is projected to fall at +1, with Aditi down at 5-over through 36 holes.
Aditi began the day with her back to the wall. Needing to make some birdies to address the five-stroke deficit from her first round card, the Indian conceded two more bogeys in the opening nine holes, making the turn at 6-over.
Birdies at the 12th and 18th, her second and third in the round, were just not enough to push her into the weekend.
Madelene Sagstrom fires a sizzling 62
Sagstrom was in blustering form on Friday. She played with savage intent, shooting eleven birdies in a prolific round of golf. The Swede shot seven birdies in eight holes at one stage, racing through the bend on a streak of birdies that started on the fifth hole. At 10-under through 36 holes, she is comfortably ahead of Hataoka and Song.
“I felt like I could be a little more aggressive today,” Sagstrom said. “The ball was going to stop wherever you hit it in the fairway, so we knew that carry was going to be the most specific thing. And I was really aggressive with the pins. I knew it was going to stop right by the pin if I dared to be aggressive.”
Starting on the 10th hole, Ciganda birdies four of her first five holes to push herself up the order. She conceded a bogey at the 18th but made immediate amends with a birdie on the par-5 first hole. Ciganda was nine-under through 16 holes at the time of this report.
Song secured three strokes on the first two holes, starting with an eagle on the first. She secured six birdies and an eagle for a blemishless 64 and a tie for second at the halfway stage of the tournament.
Hataoka was also spotless on Friday. She picked up four of eight birdies in a row from the 9th as he took heat at the bend for a formidable 64 on her card. The Japanese and Song, an American, were both even par in the opening round.
