GWLADYS NOCERA TAKES UP RUNNING, LYNN KENNY HAS AN ACE
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
REPORT BY BETHAN CUTLER
Ladies European Tour Media Manager
Castiglione di Sicilia, Italy: Gwladys Nocera will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Sicilian Ladies Italian Open after edging ahead of Christina Kim in the closing stages of day two.
The Frenchwoman, pictured right, pulled one stroke clear with a six under par 66 at Il Picciolo Golf Club, which sits on the border of the Mount Etna national park in Castiglione di Sicilia.
Kim’s round of 69 put her at five under, ahead of Italian Giulia Sergas and Julie Greciet of France. Greciet fired five birdies in a round of 68 to vault up the leader board, while Sergas had four birdies in a round of 69.
Nocera’s bogey at 10 was the only blemish on her card as she picked up shots at the second, fourth, sixth, 16th and 18th holes. She also had an eagle three at the 11th after playing a six-iron approach shot to two metres and knocking in the putt.
“It was tough today with the wind blowing pretty hard. Sometimes it was just turning and we were not sure how strong the wind was, so it was pretty hard to find the right club. Today was pretty hard so I’m really happy with my score,” said Nocera.
The 36 year-old former LET money list winner won ten times on the Ladies European Tour from 2006-2008 and claimed her last victory at the 2008 Madrid Ladies Masters, but insists that she loves being in contention.
“I am feeling good. Tomorrow I’m going to go there to win: that’s all I can do. There are a lot of good players behind me so it will be tough and it depends on the weather also. If it’s blowing hard it’s better for me, but we’ll see. All I can do is give my best and hopefully go home with some good news.”
There was drama on and around the fairways as Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, spewed clouds of smoke into the sky surrounding the golf course. Nocera added: “It’s weird because it was rumbling all day and I thought it was a storm. When we were on 18 there was a lot of smoke coming out and it’s pretty weird. It was so nice because there was smoke and then a rainbow, it was raining and sunny: everything, so it was cool.”
Kim, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour who represented the United States at The Solheim Cup in Ireland a fortnight ago, relished the prospect of lifting her first trophy since The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions in 2005.
The 27-year-old has racked up 44 top-10 finishes since her rookie season in 2003 and she is looking for her first win on the Ladies European Tour.
She said: “I love being in a position where I can chase the leaders. I also like being in the position where I’m up near the top. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good finish here on the LET and it’s a testament to how great the competition is out here on this tour.
“It’s just been a really exciting week. It’s gorgeous. It’s my first time in Sicily and drinking OJ all day, enjoying the food. I’ve never seen tomatoes so red. It sounds very stereotypical but really, it has been gorgeous out and the people have been so kind so I’m really happy to be here and really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Third season LET professional Greciet, who earned a career best finish of second in Prague a month ago, was pleased to have had 28 putts.
“It was very difficult today and the wind was very strong so I’m happy,” said the 24 year-old from Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse. “There was two clubs difference so I played well.”
Sergas, from Trieste in northern Italy, was delighted to be in the hunt but was also pleased for her fellow Italian Stefanie Croce, who finished a stroke back in a tie for fifth on three under with Germany’s Anja Monke and Australian Karen Lunn.
Overnight leader Trish Johnson had a 76, which was ten shots worse than her opening round but she was still only four strokes behind the leader at two under alongside compatriot Holly Aitchison and Belen Mozo of Spain.
Second round play was suspended at approximately 7pm due to darkness with two players, Isabella Ramsay and Helena Callahan, on the 18th fairway.
The duo will finish their second rounds at 7.30am on Sunday but regardless of their scores, the cut will be made to the leading 50 professionals and ties at +5.
Scotland’s Lynn Kenny had a hole in one at the 208-yard 3rd hole using a 5-wood. It helped her make the cut with a par-matching round of 72 for a 36-hole tally of 149 - the limit for qualifying for the final round.
The third and final round will commence from a one-tee start at 8.30am in three-balls with the leaders going out last.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 72 66
139 Christina Kim (USA) 70 69
140 Julie Greciet (FRA) 72 68 , Giulia Sergas (ITA) 71 69
141 Stefania Croce (ITA) 68 73 , Anja Monke (GER) 72 69 , Karen Lunn (AUS) 69 72
142 Holly Aitchison (ENG) 71 71 , Belen Mozo (ESP) 69 73 , Trish Johnson (ENG) 66 76
143 Amelia Lewis (USA) 73 70 , Jaclyn Sweeney (USA) 75 68 , Adriana Zwanck (ESP) 72 71 , Becky Morgan (WAL) 72 71
144 Kym Larratt (ENG) 68 76 , Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 73 71 , Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) 72 72 , Louise Stahle (SWE) 70 74 , Line Vedel (DEN) 72 72 , Barbara Genuini (FRA) 71 73 , Florentyna Parker (ENG) 71 73
145 Julie Maisongrosse (FRA) 73 72 , Sahra Hassan (WAL) 72 73 , Stacey Keating (AUS) 71 74 , Julie Tvede (DEN) 75 70 , Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 72 73 , Lucie Andre (FRA) 74 71 , Melissa Reid (ENG) 73 72 , Laura Diaz (USA) 74 71 , Beth Allen (USA) 69 76
146 Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 76 , Kylie Walker (SCO) 75 71 , Kiran Matharu (ENG) 72 74
147 Kim Welch (USA) 76 71 , Linda Wessberg (SWE) 71 76 , Georgina Simpson (ENG) 73 74 , Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 71 76 , Stefanie Michl (AUT) 73 74 , Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 74 73 , Margherita Rigon (ITA) 75 72 , Sophie Walker (ENG) 77 70
148 Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 72 76 , Hannah Jun (USA) 72 76
149 Valentine Derrey (FRA) 72 77 , Lynn Kenny (SCO) 77 72 , Rachel Jennings (ENG) 74 75 , Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 74 75 , Jessica Ji (KOR) 76 73 , Melodie Bourdy (FRA) 72 77 , Garrett Phillips (USA) 76 73 , Tania Elosegui (ESP) 77 72 , Martina Gillen (IRE) 75 74.
MISSED THE CUT
149 Bianca Maria Fabrizio (AM) (ITA) 76 74 , Bree Arthur (AUS) 77 73
151 Mianne Bagger (DEN) 75 76 , Caroline Rominger (SWI) 75 76 , Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 74 77 , Marjet van der Graaff (NL) 73 78 , Marieke Nivard (NL) 76 75 , Klara Spilkova (CZE) 69 82 , Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 74 77 , Rebecca Codd (IRE) 74 77
152 Vikki Laing (SCO) 76 76 , Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 78 74 , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 77 75 , Caroline Martens (NOR) 75 77 , Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 76 76 , Felicity Johnson (ENG) 73 79
153 Joanna Klatten (FRA) 76 77 , Tara Davies (WAL) 74 79 , Rachel Bell (ENG) 74 79 , Becky Brewerton (WAL) 81 72 , Carly Booth (SCO) 75 78 , Sara Brown (USA) 76 77.
154 Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 80 74 , Chrisje de Vries (NL) 77 77 , Viva Schlasberg (SWE) 77 77 , Jenni Kuosa (FIN) 77 (+5) [15]
155 Anna Rossi (ITA) 79 76 , Clare Queen (SCO) 81 74 , Eugenia Ferrero (Am) (ITA) 77 78 , Ana Larraneta (ESP) 78 77
156 Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) 76 80 , Vittoria Valvassori (ITA) 80 76 , Morgana Robbertze (SA) 80 76 , Carmen Alonso (ESP) 76 80
157 Kirsty J Fisher (UK) 79 78 , Benedicte Toumpsin (BEL) 79 78 , Laura Cabanillas (ESP) 75 82
158 Louise Larsson (SWE) 78 80 , Matia Maffiuletti (ITA) 81 77 , Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN) 79 79
159 Alessandra Averna (am) (ITA) 79 80
160 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA) 74 86 , Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 81 79
163 Stefania Avanzo (AM) (ITA) 83 80
165 Connie Chen (SA) 82 83
Retired - Charlie Douglass (ENG) 85 ret, Federica Piovano (ITA) ret,
Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 72 ret , Roberta Liti (am) (ITA) 86 ret
Disqualified - Patricia Beliard (FRA) 82 disq
REPORT BY BETHAN CUTLER
Ladies European Tour Media Manager
The Frenchwoman, pictured right, pulled one stroke clear with a six under par 66 at Il Picciolo Golf Club, which sits on the border of the Mount Etna national park in Castiglione di Sicilia.
Kim’s round of 69 put her at five under, ahead of Italian Giulia Sergas and Julie Greciet of France. Greciet fired five birdies in a round of 68 to vault up the leader board, while Sergas had four birdies in a round of 69.
Nocera’s bogey at 10 was the only blemish on her card as she picked up shots at the second, fourth, sixth, 16th and 18th holes. She also had an eagle three at the 11th after playing a six-iron approach shot to two metres and knocking in the putt.
“It was tough today with the wind blowing pretty hard. Sometimes it was just turning and we were not sure how strong the wind was, so it was pretty hard to find the right club. Today was pretty hard so I’m really happy with my score,” said Nocera.
The 36 year-old former LET money list winner won ten times on the Ladies European Tour from 2006-2008 and claimed her last victory at the 2008 Madrid Ladies Masters, but insists that she loves being in contention.
“I am feeling good. Tomorrow I’m going to go there to win: that’s all I can do. There are a lot of good players behind me so it will be tough and it depends on the weather also. If it’s blowing hard it’s better for me, but we’ll see. All I can do is give my best and hopefully go home with some good news.”
There was drama on and around the fairways as Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, spewed clouds of smoke into the sky surrounding the golf course. Nocera added: “It’s weird because it was rumbling all day and I thought it was a storm. When we were on 18 there was a lot of smoke coming out and it’s pretty weird. It was so nice because there was smoke and then a rainbow, it was raining and sunny: everything, so it was cool.”
Kim, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour who represented the United States at The Solheim Cup in Ireland a fortnight ago, relished the prospect of lifting her first trophy since The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions in 2005.
The 27-year-old has racked up 44 top-10 finishes since her rookie season in 2003 and she is looking for her first win on the Ladies European Tour.
She said: “I love being in a position where I can chase the leaders. I also like being in the position where I’m up near the top. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good finish here on the LET and it’s a testament to how great the competition is out here on this tour.
“It’s just been a really exciting week. It’s gorgeous. It’s my first time in Sicily and drinking OJ all day, enjoying the food. I’ve never seen tomatoes so red. It sounds very stereotypical but really, it has been gorgeous out and the people have been so kind so I’m really happy to be here and really looking forward to tomorrow.”
Third season LET professional Greciet, who earned a career best finish of second in Prague a month ago, was pleased to have had 28 putts.
“It was very difficult today and the wind was very strong so I’m happy,” said the 24 year-old from Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse. “There was two clubs difference so I played well.”
Sergas, from Trieste in northern Italy, was delighted to be in the hunt but was also pleased for her fellow Italian Stefanie Croce, who finished a stroke back in a tie for fifth on three under with Germany’s Anja Monke and Australian Karen Lunn.
Overnight leader Trish Johnson had a 76, which was ten shots worse than her opening round but she was still only four strokes behind the leader at two under alongside compatriot Holly Aitchison and Belen Mozo of Spain.
Second round play was suspended at approximately 7pm due to darkness with two players, Isabella Ramsay and Helena Callahan, on the 18th fairway.
The duo will finish their second rounds at 7.30am on Sunday but regardless of their scores, the cut will be made to the leading 50 professionals and ties at +5.
Scotland’s Lynn Kenny had a hole in one at the 208-yard 3rd hole using a 5-wood. It helped her make the cut with a par-matching round of 72 for a 36-hole tally of 149 - the limit for qualifying for the final round.
The third and final round will commence from a one-tee start at 8.30am in three-balls with the leaders going out last.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
138 Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 72 66
139 Christina Kim (USA) 70 69
140 Julie Greciet (FRA) 72 68 , Giulia Sergas (ITA) 71 69
141 Stefania Croce (ITA) 68 73 , Anja Monke (GER) 72 69 , Karen Lunn (AUS) 69 72
142 Holly Aitchison (ENG) 71 71 , Belen Mozo (ESP) 69 73 , Trish Johnson (ENG) 66 76
143 Amelia Lewis (USA) 73 70 , Jaclyn Sweeney (USA) 75 68 , Adriana Zwanck (ESP) 72 71 , Becky Morgan (WAL) 72 71
144 Kym Larratt (ENG) 68 76 , Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 73 71 , Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) 72 72 , Louise Stahle (SWE) 70 74 , Line Vedel (DEN) 72 72 , Barbara Genuini (FRA) 71 73 , Florentyna Parker (ENG) 71 73
145 Julie Maisongrosse (FRA) 73 72 , Sahra Hassan (WAL) 72 73 , Stacey Keating (AUS) 71 74 , Julie Tvede (DEN) 75 70 , Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 72 73 , Lucie Andre (FRA) 74 71 , Melissa Reid (ENG) 73 72 , Laura Diaz (USA) 74 71 , Beth Allen (USA) 69 76
146 Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 76 , Kylie Walker (SCO) 75 71 , Kiran Matharu (ENG) 72 74
147 Kim Welch (USA) 76 71 , Linda Wessberg (SWE) 71 76 , Georgina Simpson (ENG) 73 74 , Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 71 76 , Stefanie Michl (AUT) 73 74 , Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 74 73 , Margherita Rigon (ITA) 75 72 , Sophie Walker (ENG) 77 70
148 Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 72 76 , Hannah Jun (USA) 72 76
149 Valentine Derrey (FRA) 72 77 , Lynn Kenny (SCO) 77 72 , Rachel Jennings (ENG) 74 75 , Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 74 75 , Jessica Ji (KOR) 76 73 , Melodie Bourdy (FRA) 72 77 , Garrett Phillips (USA) 76 73 , Tania Elosegui (ESP) 77 72 , Martina Gillen (IRE) 75 74.
MISSED THE CUT
149 Bianca Maria Fabrizio (AM) (ITA) 76 74 , Bree Arthur (AUS) 77 73
151 Mianne Bagger (DEN) 75 76 , Caroline Rominger (SWI) 75 76 , Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 74 77 , Marjet van der Graaff (NL) 73 78 , Marieke Nivard (NL) 76 75 , Klara Spilkova (CZE) 69 82 , Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 74 77 , Rebecca Codd (IRE) 74 77
152 Vikki Laing (SCO) 76 76 , Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 78 74 , Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 77 75 , Caroline Martens (NOR) 75 77 , Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 76 76 , Felicity Johnson (ENG) 73 79
153 Joanna Klatten (FRA) 76 77 , Tara Davies (WAL) 74 79 , Rachel Bell (ENG) 74 79 , Becky Brewerton (WAL) 81 72 , Carly Booth (SCO) 75 78 , Sara Brown (USA) 76 77.
154 Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 80 74 , Chrisje de Vries (NL) 77 77 , Viva Schlasberg (SWE) 77 77 , Jenni Kuosa (FIN) 77 (+5) [15]
155 Anna Rossi (ITA) 79 76 , Clare Queen (SCO) 81 74 , Eugenia Ferrero (Am) (ITA) 77 78 , Ana Larraneta (ESP) 78 77
156 Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) 76 80 , Vittoria Valvassori (ITA) 80 76 , Morgana Robbertze (SA) 80 76 , Carmen Alonso (ESP) 76 80
157 Kirsty J Fisher (UK) 79 78 , Benedicte Toumpsin (BEL) 79 78 , Laura Cabanillas (ESP) 75 82
158 Louise Larsson (SWE) 78 80 , Matia Maffiuletti (ITA) 81 77 , Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN) 79 79
159 Alessandra Averna (am) (ITA) 79 80
160 Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (FRA) 74 86 , Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 81 79
163 Stefania Avanzo (AM) (ITA) 83 80
165 Connie Chen (SA) 82 83
Retired - Charlie Douglass (ENG) 85 ret, Federica Piovano (ITA) ret,
Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 72 ret , Roberta Liti (am) (ITA) 86 ret
Disqualified - Patricia Beliard (FRA) 82 disq
Labels: LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
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