After a storm held up day one, the golfers were still playing catch up when darkness fell on day two, meaning Iturrioz still has four holes to play on Sunday to complete her second round.

The Spaniard leads by one over Scottish rookie Louise Duncan, who turned pro in July last year.

Duncan, who won the 2021 Women’s Amateur Championship, is looking for her first win as a professional.

She sits alongside Solheim Cup star Carlota Ciganda, who took advantage of the placid morning conditions by carding a three-under par 69.

“This morning I thought it was going to be a little easier, a little less windy than yesterday,” Ciganda said. “I hit some good shots, but to be honest my putting was great. I made some good up-and-downs and some good putts for birdie, so that was the key.”

Despite having to play 20 holes on Saturday, American Lindsey Weaver-Wright also shot up the leaderboard, with a second-round three-under taking her up to fifth spot.

“I played pretty steady and other than that, I made a couple of putts. These greens are kind of tricky and with the wind, it can get really tough out there, especially down the final stretch. So, I was just happy to par those holes and

then finish under par”.

Home favourite Lexi Thompson is level-par, tied 9th for the tournament, while world No. 3 Lydia Ko sits on one-under in a share of sixth.

Aside from the drama of the individual championship, it was all to play for in the team event featuring an ever-changing leaderboard throughout the day. Team Alexander finished the day at 23-under-par, leading in the clubhouse overnight. However, they have a long wait to see the final results, as ‘Team Roussin’, captained by Pauline Roussin lead the team championship at 28-under-par through 14 holes before darkness suspended play on Saturday.

60 players and ties proceed to the final round of the Aramco Team Series Florida, as the Team event concludes at the end of the second round.

The post Iturrioz maintains lead in delayed Aramco Team Series Florida appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
A cursory glance at the names beneath Minjee Lee on the front page of the OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic leaderboard read like a who’s who of what might have been, tales that some were happy to articulate, others not at all.

While Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, clearly crestfallen at her playoff loss to Lee, escaped into the night without a word, Swede Caroline Hedwall and Scot Kylie Henry stuck about to add context to a dramatic Friday on The Faldo.

The leader by one heading into the final round, Hedwall eventually missed the playoff by the same margin after three front nine bogeys meant she was always playing catch-up down the floodlit stretch. She did so bravely but simply couldn’t will either of the birdie looks she had on the final two holes into the cup, including a great chance after a near repeat of her opening round slam dunk ace on 17.

The six-time LET winner eventually had to settle for T-3 alongside Laura Fuenfstueck (70) and fast-finishing defending champion Nuria Iturrioz (67) who were others to come close and finish yet so far.

“It wasn’t the start I wanted but I think I fought back very well and the last couple of holes I played really, really well, gave myself the opportunities but just didn’t make the putts in the end,” said Hedwall who signed for a 72 and a decent dollop of confidence to take into Saudi next week and beyond.

“Yeah, absolutely, I mean I feel well with my game, I’m playing solid. I just need to get that momentum I had the greens the first day [a 65] and I know I can score low.”

Henry was never really in ‘what might have been’ range after starting the final round so far back. But she was elated all the same with a course-record 63 to catapult herself from +3 to -6 and into the top-10. The highlight came at the par-3 8th where she summoned an 8-iron to a foot from the cup but her most impressive moment came afterwards when she spoke on behalf of all those with Moonlight narratives good, great and sad.

“I’m just so delighted to be playing tournaments,” Henry said. “I’m so grateful to everybody at the LET who is working doubly hard and all our sponsors who’ve got us back up and running through this pandemic. It’s made us all remember how much we love the game and we’re really appreciating the opportunity to be out here competing for a living.”

The post The contrasting final-round fortunes of Hedwall, Henry and co. appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.