England’s Lianna Bailey fired an incredible six under-par 67 to breeze into the lead after the second round of the Links Series at Ramside Hall.
The 26-year-old got off to a hot start, rolling in a birdie putt on the first. After a bogey on the fourth, she fired up the flatstick again to card birdies on five and seven before a bogey on nine. Following the turn, Lianna carded a further six birdies and one bogey to finish the second round at eight under-par.
“I’m feeling good, I played solid today and made a few putts,” said Lianna. “I didn’t really make any mistakes that were too costly. I’m enjoying being on home soil this week, I enjoy the small comforts of getting to go to supermarkets that we know or having familiar TV and things like that.”
This round mark’s Lianna’s lowest-ever score at a LETAS tournament, her previous being 71, yet she thinks playing on a course she knows has helped.
“I played the course last year in the same tournament, so I know it well. It’s a nice course and I enjoy it.”
It’s been a steady season for the rookie, who is currently sixth on the LETAS rookie of the year list, and she’s aware there is still a long way to go.
“We still have 18 holes to go so I will try not to get too ahead of myself and just keep playing one shot at a time and just see where we are at the end of tomorrow,” she added. “I am excited about being in the leading group, it’s been a while since I was there so I’m just going to enjoy it and see what happens.”
Behind Lianna lies Denmark’s Cecile Finne-Ipsen on six under-par.
Like Lianna, Cecile had a strong start with a birdie on the first followed by three consecutive birdies on five, six and seven. A further three birdies on the back nine and three bogeys put the 24-year-old in a strong position going into the final round.
“I’m super happy, you never know what the day is going to bring but today was a good day,” said Cecile. “I started off well with a birdie and I just tried to go out there and hit one shot at a time. The putts just dropped today and suddenly, I’m four under-par. I’m super excited about being in the leading group, I’m honestly just going to do what I did today, take one shot at a time and it’s been a while since I’ve been up there.”
A further shot back is England’s Hannah Screen on five under-par after carding five birdies and just one bogey on day two.
The leaders will get their final round underway at 10.25am local time.
The cut fell at six over-par, with 52 players making it through to the Friday at Ramside.
Follow all the action on @letaccess on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and LET Access Series on Facebook.
