Lewis fends off fatigue to claim share of lead
FORMER world No.1 Stacy Lewis overcame exhaustion and aching feet to claim a share of the halfway lead in the ASI Ladies Scottish Open.
Lewis carded a second round of 66 at the Renaissance
Club to finish five under par alongside Spain’s Azahara Munoz, with American Jennifer Song a shot behind in third.
Lewis was among the players forced to complete their first round on Friday morning due to a two-hour fog delay on Thursday, the 35-year-old American playing her last four holes in two under thanks to an eagle on the 16th.
After a short break Lewis was back on the course and finished her second round in style with four birdies in a row from the 15th to conclude a long but productive two days.
“It was about 8.30pm when they blew the horn last night and we had to walk all the way in [from the 15th], and then the keypad system wouldn’t work to get in the parking garage,” said Lewis, who won the 2013 Women’s British
Open at St Andrews.
“So we were walking in the hotel a little before 10.00pm, and then I got in the room, ordered food really fast, FaceTimed Chesnee [her 22-month-old daughter] and took a shower. I think I was in bed by 10.45pm. And then we had to leave at 5.30 this morning to get back out for the 8am restart.
“We had about 45 minutes in between rounds.
“Everybody’s feet are hurting. We were all kind of rubbing our backs at the end. It was definitely an adventure the last two days.”
Lewis, who finished ninth in the Marathon LPGA Classic following a closing 65, added: “I said it when I finished on Sunday that I really felt like my game was in a good spot. I just need opportunities to play.
“I need rounds to kind of work the kinks out, especially with the putter and just keep getting more comfortable with that. I’m really excited.
“It’s as good as my body has felt in a really long time, and just had more of an understanding of what’s going on and it’s all added up to some good golf so far.”
Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh could only add a 75 to her opening 69 to slip seven shots off the pace on two over par alongside England’s Meghan MacLaren.
We had about 45 minutes in between