Cara Gorlei takes command at Magical Kenya Ladies Open

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GOLF Cara Gorlei takes command at Magical Kenya Ladies Open

Festus Chuma 22:00 - 09.02.2024

South Africa's Cara Gorlei leads Magical Kenya Ladies Open with 5-under par as competitors face challenging conditions and tight leaderboard.

South Africa's Cara Gorlei carded a 1-under par 72 in the second round of action at the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open seizing a lead with a total of 5-under par, 141, as the tournament propels into the weekend.

Cara, who started the day as part of a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard alongside England's Eleanor Givens and Lauren Walsh from Ireland, wasted little time in making her intent clear, with three birdies from her first three holes.

Despite encountering challenges, including her first dropped shot at the par-5 seventh, Gorlei showcased her determination, finishing the front nine with a score of 35. 

Her performance on the back nine mirrored her strong start, with three birdies through the first four holes before facing a setback with a double bogey at the par-4 fourteenth. This marked a critical juncture in her round, leading to additional bogeys at the 16th and 18th, culminating in a score of 37 for the back nine.

Reflecting on her performance, Gorlei shared, “Today was definitely tougher than yesterday but somehow, I managed to put in a good score after some good and bad runs during the eighteen holes. The putting was just very hot and cold.

It took me a little while to get over the four putts, that's why I guess why I slowed down but once I started the back nine I was like come on let's just get something going here so you just got to put it in play on this course and I didn't do that as well as yesterday but I'm still happy with the under par round.”

Nipping at Gorlei's heels is 20-year-old Nataliya Guseva, a newcomer on the Ladies European Tour, who carded a commendable 3-under par 70 for the round, bringing her total to 4-under par, 142.

Guseva, taking the conditions in stride, remarked, “I am taking it hole-by-hole here because it is very windy and the conditions tough for us as it is pretty hot out there. I am just trying to stay in the moment, then get out there and have fun and enjoy myself.”

The leaderboard remains tightly contested, with Italy's Alessandra Fanali, Japan's Ayako Uehara, Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, and Singapore's Shannon Tan tied for third place with overall scores of 3-under par, 143.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' Samantha Bruce turned heads with the round's best score, a 5-under par 68, free of any blemishes and adorned with five birdies, placing her tied for seventh with a total of 2-under par 144.

The tournament has proven challenging for local players, with none of the five Kenyan competitors making the cut, which was set at 6-over par, 152.

Naomi Wafula emerged as the highest finisher among the Kenyan contingent, tying in 95th place with a 13-over par 159 score.

As the Magical Kenya Ladies Open advances to Moving Day, the competition intensifies, with players vying for a share of the tournament's €300,000(KShs 51,900,000) prize fund.

The action resumes tomorrow at 8:59 AM, with the leaders set to tee off at 1:15 PM, promising another exciting day of golf at one of the Ladies European Tour's standout events.

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