Home star Grant shares top billing as
Linn Grant and Ana Peláez share the lead heading into today’s final day of the Didriksons Skaftö Open, with the pair sitting on nine-under-par with 18 holes left to play.
A bogey-free round score of 65 (-4) saw Peláez leap to the top of the leaderboard, with the Spaniard sitting a shot back of the overnight leaders after the first-round.
A flawless second round score of 62 (-7) was the best of the day for Grant, who didn’t drop a single shot in an eye-catching performance yesterday.
“It was a really good day. My game was good yesterday but the putts didn’t drop, but today they did,” she said.
“I hit some pretty decent shots into the greens and gave myself some shorter birdie putts that managed to go in.”
After four successive pars to start her day, Grant’s round kicked into gear on the fifth as she picked up her first shot of the day, before birdieing holes seven and eight.
A pinpoint approach to the parfive ninth gave her a six-foot putt for eagle – which she duly converted – before picking up another shot on the tenth to make her six-under par for the day.
The back nine was somewhat quieter in comparison, with another birdie on the 14th. But that didn’t stop her from putting on a show for the local crowds coming to watch their compatriot in action.
And Grant was keen to sing the praises of group mate Lee-Anne Pace after her round, with the South African’s company helping her to keep her cool with the pressure on.
“Lee-Anne is pretty relaxed as
well and it’s always nice to have someone to talk to, especially when you shoot low. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about different things than just golf.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Maja Stark shoots nine-under tomorrow and comes from behind again, but if I can just copy today it will be perfect.”
Grant has Peláez for company at the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes, with the Spaniard shooting 65 (-4) on Day Two to put herself in with a chance of a second LET win of the season.
The Comundiad de Madrid Ladies Open winner came into the week on the back of a T2 finish at Aramco Team Series – Sotogrande last week, and has so far backed that up with another strong showing in Sweden.
Peláez also went bogey-free yesterday with four birdies on the card, as she picked up shots on holes two, five and seven, before ending the day strongly with a birdie on the 17th.
And that set the target for Elina Nummenpaa, who went out later in the day having shot 63 (-6) on Day One to hold the overnight lead, and it was another strong showing from the 38-year-old to keep herself in a strong position heading into the final day with a round of 67 (-2)
Behind Nummenpaa sits Norway’s Maiken Bing Paulsen alongside Caroline Hedwall on seven-under, with the Scandinavian duo two shots off the lead.
Scotland’s Rachael Taylor is at four-under after a pair of 67s, while Gabby Macdonald is a shot further back. Hazel MacGarvie sits at levelpar, Laura Beveridge and Heather Macrae are at two-over-par.