Scot Jane Turner fired a second successive 69 to forge a two-shot lead on two-under at the summit of the leaderboard at the Wild Coast Country Club on Wednesday in the second round of the SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International.
The Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club player carded six birdies, including three in row from the 15th to open a gap between herself and Nobuhle Dlamini.
The defending champion, Nobuhle Dlamini, is on level par following rounds of 68 and 72, three shots ahead of Chloe Williams from Wales, who returned rounds of 69 and 72.
GolfRSA Elite Squad member Kajal Mistry is in the mix for a third straight week going into the final round.
The 18-year-old Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation golfer registered a 72 to grab a share of fourth on two-over with Scottish rookie Gabrielle Macdonald and overnight leader Jessica Dreesbeimdieke. Macdonald carded 70, while the lanky Namibian battled to a second round 76.
Testament to her focus, the 29-year-old Turner was so engrossed in her round that she didn’t know she had surged ahead of the field.
‘I didn’t even know I had a two-shot lead. I’ll just have to do the same tomorrow,’ said Turner.
‘It was pretty windy out there with strong crosswinds, but I managed to keep control over everything and I holed some really good putts. That helped me recover from the little double bogey on nine.
‘I actually holed quite a long putt on the 17th, and the previous two were good approach shots. You could actually, if you were quite aggressive, reach the 16th in two. I did that and two-putted for my birdie.’
Lurking ominously though, is three-time Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Dlamini.
By her own admission, Dlamini admitted that she didn’t play her best golf in the second round, but she was confident about her chances going into the final round.
‘It was a tough day today from the star to the finish. I hit a lot of greens in regulation,’ said Dlamini. ‘It wasn’t great overall. The back nine played really tough with the south-easterly wind. I’ll take it though. I’m level par, and two behind and still within reach.
‘There’s nothing to stress about really. I’m going to go work on my putting now, and hopefully I’ll be sharper for tomorrow.’
The 27-year-old is in second place on the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit following her win in the Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am two weeks ago and a fifth-place finish last week at the SA Women’s Masters.
The consistent play of Dlamini has seen her remain in line for the first title defence of her career at the scene of her breakthrough victory on tour.
‘I think I’ve been quite consistent, even when it’s not been going so well and holding my score together. Tomorrow I’ll have to chase a little bit harder, but I’ll also need to be cautious about what is happening around me.’
Second round leaderboard:
All competitors RSA unless otherwise specified and amateurs indicated as AMA
138 – Jane Turner (SCO) 69 69
140 – Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 68 72
141 – Chloe Williams (WAL) 69 72
142 – Gabrielle Macdonald (SCO) 72 70, Kajal Mistry AMA 70 72, Jessica Dreesbeimdieke (NAM) 66 76
143 – Hannah McCook (SCO) 72 71
144 – Stina Resen (NOR) 71 73, Emilie Piquot (FRA) 69 75, Laura Murray (SCO) 68 76
145 – Catherine Lau 74 71, Kiran Matharu (ENG) 70 75
146 – Kim Williams 74 72, Brittney-Fay Berger 73 73, Lora Assad 76 70, Lara Weinstein 76 70, Hannah Arnold (USA) 72 74, Kelsey Nicholas 78 68
147 – Lenanda van der Watt 73 74, Siviwe Duma 73 74, Bertine Faber 69 78
148 – Nastja Banovec (SVN) 74 74, Pasqualle Coffa (NED) 75 73, Rachel Raastad (NOR) 76 72, Clara Pietri (SUI) 72 76, Maria Beautell (ESP) 72 76, Alana van Greuning 72 76, Marion Duvernay (FRA) 72 76
149 – Casandra Hall 74 75, Monique Smit 74 75, Dominique Jacobs 76 73, Tandi Mc Callum 71 78, Annelie Sjoholm (SWE) 71 78
Missed the cut:-
150 – Yolanda Duma 74 76, Millie Saroha (IND) 73 77, Melissa Eaton 72 78, Laure Sibille (FRA) 77 73
151 – Rachael Goodall (ENG) 75 76, Sofia Ljungqvist (SWE) 78 73, Alison Muirhead AMA (SCO) 79 72
152 – Anna Magnusson (SWE) 74 78, Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) 71 81
153 – Gabriella Venter AMA 76 77, Ivanna Samu 78 75, Lindi Coetzee 78 75
154 – Anna Svenstrup (SWE) 74 80, Shawnelle de Lange 73 81, Leslie Grandet (MAD) 77 77
156 – Sofie Bringner (SWE) 75 81, Laurette Maritz 75 81
157 – Mimmi Bergman (SWE) 77 80
158 – Chiara Contomathios 74 84, Sunelle von Molendorff 76 82
160 – Larissa Du Preez AMA 80 80
162 – Rachel Drummond (ENG) 82 80
163 – Kim de Klerk AMA 86 77
165 – Carmen Taljaard AMA 81 84
166 – Julie Berton (FRA) 86 80
170 – Louisa Tarn AMA (ENG) 90 80
179 – Charlotte Austwick (ENG) 76 103
WDN – Flora Peuch (FRA) 81 WDN
RTD – Michelle Swanepoel 76 RTD
