Rookies clear first hurdle in Ladies Swiss Open

Michele, Krystle & Pamela

make their first LET cut

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Finland’s Jenni Kuosa battled the elements to take the halfway lead at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open today.
The 31-year-old from Vantaa added a three-under 70 to her opening 67 for a nine-under total of 137 on a wet day at Golf Gerre Losone at the foothills of the Swiss Alps.
Kuosa said that she was just happy to be back on tour after regaining her playing privileges at qualifying school in January. “I’m just enjoying being back here. My goal today was to be patient in the rain and that worked pretty well. I had a few more chances that I didn’t make.”
Australian Karen Lunn shot a six-under 67, including seven birdies, which was the best round of the day. She led in the clubhouse until overtaken by Austrian Nicole Gergely and rising English star Melissa Reid.
A runner-up three times – with two further third place finishes – Reid added a 68 to her opening 71 for a seven-under total and share of second.
Reid is hoping that a fresh approach will help her to register a first victory. The 2008 Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year recently moved house to Loughborough and is working with a new coach, Dave Ridley, at Coxmoor Golf Club in England. She thanked her caddie, Paul Vincent Fernie.
“I’d like to say that Paul did a really good job today. A day like today completely emphasises how important a caddie is. He helped me and did a fantastic job so a massive thank-you to him,” Reid said.
Gergely, who lost to Heather MacRae in a play-off for the British women's open amateur stroke -play championship at Nairn in 2006, posted a second round of 69, having opened with a 70. She posted four birdies but saved two good pars on holes nine and 13.
Stacy Lee Bregman of South Africa, who led on eight-under 65 after the first round, slipped five shots off the pace after a second round of 78.
Meanwhile Lunn, the 1993 Women’s British Open champion, went out in four-under 33 and came home with a further three birdies and one bogey. In so doing she moved into contention from a share of 55th position.
“I played well. 29 putts today as opposed to 34 putts yesterday and that was the difference,” said the seven-time LET tournament winner, who shares fourth place with Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord. “At the end of last year I started to play well again and put a few good rounds together. It’s nice to put one together early in the year.”
Norway’s Lill Kristin Saether, Sweden’s Emma Zackrisson and Britons Georgina Simpson, Lisa Hall and Felicity Johnson tied for sixth place on five-under-par.
The cut, hovering on the one-over mark all day, slipped to 68 players at two-over-par. It was just enough to see through Swiss rookie Caroline Rominger, celebrating her 26th birthday. She is the leading Swiss player and will now contest the weekend.
Ladies' European Tour rookies Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Fifer Krystle Caithness and Pamela Feggans from Patna, Ayrshire all cleared the qualifying hurdle in their very first Continental pro event. Michele (73-72) and Krystle (71-75) hit the 146 mark and are joint 38th as they move into the third round.

Pamela made the cut with nothing to spare. She is tied 60th on 148, made up of a 76 and a 72.. But there was bad news for LET "regulars" Lynn Kenny and Clare Queen. They both missed the cut, Lynn with 78 and 72 for 150, Clare with 77 and 75 for 152.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 146 (2x73)

137 J Kuosa (Fin) 67 70.

139 N Gergely (Aut) 70 69, M Reid (Eng) 71 69.

14o K Lunn (Aus) 73 67, M Skarpnord (Nor) 69 71.

141 L K Saether (Nor) 69 72, E Zackrisson (Swe) 67 74, G simpson (Eng) 69 72, L Hall (Eng) 68 73, F Johnston (Eng) 70 71.

142 T Delaney (Ire) 69 73, G Nocera (Fra) 72 70, C Alonso (Spa) 71 71, S L Bregman (SAf) 65 77.

Selected scores:

143 A Nordqvist (Swe) 71 72, S Head (Eng) 69 74, S Walker (Eng) 70 73 (jt 15th).

144 R Coakley (Ire) 72 72 (jt 24th).

145 H Kavanagh (Ire) 74 71, K S Taylor (Eng) 71 74, R Hudson (Eng) 73 72 (jt 28th).

146 M Gillen (Ire) 72 74, K Caithness (Sco) 71 75, M Thomson (Sco) 73 72, L Fairclough (Eng) 77 69 (jt 38th).

147 E Lyons (Eng) 72 74, L Hall (Wal) 73 74 (jt 48th).

148 P Feggans (Sco) 76 72, B Loucks (Wal) 73 75 (jt 60th).

MISSED THE CUT

149 T Johnson (Eng) 74 75.

150 L Kenny (Sco) 78 72, B Brewerton (Wal) 76 74, E Weeks (Eng) 73 77.

151 F Parker (Eng) 76 75, J Morley (Eng) 76 75.

152 C Queen (Sco) 77 75, E Bennett (Eng) 74 78.

153 H Aitchison (Eng) 68 85.