Suzann Pettersen leads by two at halfway stage of Ricoh Women's British Open
Friday 31 July 2015 23:03, UK
Suzann Pettersen defied brutal conditions at Turnberry to open up a two-shot lead after a lengthy second round of the Ricoh Women's British Open.
Out in the third group of the day at 6.52am, Pettersen carded a superb 69 to reach seven under par for 36 holes, and the Norwegian's lead held up as the wind and rain worsened throughout the day, with overnight leader Kim Hyo-Joo plummeting down the leaderboard after a 78.
Pettersen carded four birdies and just one bogey to go two clear of So Yeon Ryu, world No 2 Lydia Ko, and Teresa Lu, while Jin-Young Ko made it a four-way tie for second place when she completed her round of 71 after 9pm.
"Today was a very solid round of golf," Pettersen said. "I felt I was in 100 percent control of the ball, the flight, the spin - everything you need to do in conditions like this. So this ranks pretty high as a good round of golf.
"The ball is not flying anywhere. It's cold. Today is a day where you try to make it easier on yourself and I had a very pain-free round. Kept myself out of trouble, had a lot of looks (at birdies). It's tough to putt, as well, in conditions like this, so easy pars is a nice thing."
The Oslo-born player would love to add the British Open to her two major titles, especially after finishing a shot outside the play-off 12 months ago and fourth in 2013, having never previously recorded a top-10 in the event.
"I'm getting older, I'm getting wiser, I'm learning," the Solheim Cup star added. "And I guess that's why this game is so great. Every year you learn something different, how you can kind of manoeuvre yourself around a golf course. I'm probably playing a bit smarter."
Pettersen's Solheim Cup team-mate Anna Nordqvist birdied the last hole to salvage a 72 and close on three under, while world No 1 Inbee Park is one further adrift after a 73.
Injured Wie pulls out
Former US Open champion Michelle Wie was forced to pull out of the event during the second round after aggravating an ankle injury. Wie was 10 over for the day and 14 over for the championship when she slipped while walking off the tee on the 13th hole.
"As frustrating as it is it just seems like I can't force it any more," Wie said.
England's Melissa Reid led the British challenge, after a two-under 70 put her on one under par, sharing 10th with four others including first-round frontrunner Kim, while Charley Hull is nine shots off the pace on two over after a battling 73.
The round of the day came late on from Sweden's Maria McBride, who had a 79 on Thursday but produced a bogey-free six-under-par 66 second time around, making light of the tough conditions to climb into a share of 20th place.
There was bad news for Laura Davies though, as England's veteran four-time former major winner carded a 78 to miss the cut by one shot on six over, the same mark as American luminaries Juli Inkster and Paula Creamer.
