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Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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Nocera in lead

Special Correspondent

Gwladys had a staggering 15 greens and 30 putts
Irina Brar pulled out of the field

BANGALORE: Gwladys Nocera, the French pro, putted with poise and was in sole lead with a handy six-under-138 after 36 holes, on day two of the EMAAR-MGF Ladies Masters golf event at the Eagleton Resort on Thursday.

Gwladys had a staggering 15 greens and 30 putts on a day, when the elements played hide-n-seek.

The day’s proceedings got underway with swirling winds but settled down under bright sunshine only to swing back to overcast conditions by midafternoon.

But by then the 32-year-old two-time European Solheim Cup team member was done with the day’s putting.

A bogey in the 17th, when the ball lipped the hole was termed ‘a stupid bad hole’ but made amends with a 20 plus putt in the 18th.

It was at the 18th that Gwladys had a birdie on Wednesday.

Starting to like it

“I’m starting to like it,” said the French woman about the 18th. “A good drive and then with a second shot you are higher than the ‘green’ which is a nice position to be in. It’s not easy…but that’s how you make it easy,” Gwladys said after her fine finish.

Her birdies on this day came in the 4th, 5th and 10th holes.

Overnight leaders Anna Tybring and Lotta Wahlin, the two Swedes, would be wishing for a fresh start on Friday, after a near disastrous day on the course.

Both the golfers floundered on the front nine and could not recover.

Trish Johnson from England and Spain’s Marta Prieto had a two under 70 for the day to share the second spot with Titiya Plucksataporn from Thailand and Bo Ri Lee of Korea, all finishing with one under 143 for the two days.

No halfway cut

With the organisers EMAAR-MGF and the Ladies European Tour, waiving off the traditional halfway ‘cut’ all the players will get to play on all four days.

India’s Irina Brar, down with high fever and food poisoning was forced to pull out of the field.

Another Indian, Tania Wadhwa with yet another two over continues to hold the best score amongst Indians with a four over 148. Meanwhile, Smriti Mehra lagged way behind with a 10 over 154.

Leading scores (after 36 holes): 138 Gwladys Nocera (Fra - 69, 69); 143 Titiya Plucksataporn (Thai - 72, 71), Bo Ri Lee (Kor - 71, 72), Trish Johnson (Eng - 73, 70), Marta Prieto (Esp - 73, 70); 144 Eva Steinberger (Aut - 74, 70), Lotta Wahlin (Swe - 69, 75); 145 Stephanie Arricau (Fra - 72, 73), Margherita Rigon (Ita - 73, 72), Sophie Walker (Eng - 70, 75), Lisa Hall (Eng - 72, 73).

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