The second round of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open brought the best quality golf in all seven years of the Ladies European Tour. The Royal Beroun Golf Club saw, among other things, an even course record and, most importantly, the advancement of five local players to Sunday’s Ladies European Tour final. Two Czech women are in the Top 25.
Leading by just one shot ahead of the final round is Switzerland’s Kim Metraux, who shot 63 (-9) with nine birdies on Saturday and has a total score of 13 under par. “It was the best round of my career. Everything worked out and I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Metraux, seeking her first Ladies European Tour title.
England’s Esme Hamilton topped the leaderboard in the afternoon, shooting 66 for the second consecutive round and will go in the final group for the first time in her short rookie career on the LET.
A further two shots back, at 10-under par, is a trio with Canada’s Anna Huang (65) and two Spaniards, Nuria Iturrioz (66) and Luna Sobron Galmes (67). South Africa’s Cassandra Alexander had the second best round of the day, 64 (-8), after nine birdies and a single bogey.
The duo are the best of the home team, tied for 23rd at 7 under par. Two-time European champion Sara Kouskova carded a 67 (-5) without a bogey, while amateur Natalie Saint German was two shots off her lifetime best, also with a clean scorecard.
The University of Houston student started from the 10th hole and rounded her first nine in one shot under par. She started a birdie fest from hole number 2. There were six in all, five on the last six holes and three in a row between the seven and nine.
“I went in with a clear head, confidently, hole by hole. Everything worked out,” said Saint Germain, who made her second Beroun start and advanced by cut for the first time, and in such an impressive fashion.
‘My game wasn’t bad, but I missed a few promising putts towards the end,’ said Sara Kouskova, who has four Top 20 results from Beroun.
Klara Davidson Spilkova improved by five shots compared to the first round. Her 67 (-5) after an opening bogey was followed by six birdies, four of them within five holes of the opening nine. ‘I felt better today, relaxed and I’m happy,’ said the pro, who is tied for 43rd.
A total of three under par and 71 shots in the second round also sent Tereza Melecka and Patricia Mack to the cut, who capped her performance with an eagle on the par-five seventh.
One shot under the cutoff (-3), through which 71 players passed, remained amateur Veronika Kedronova. On Saturday, she repeated her opening 71 shots, but this time she had a double bogey on the five-over par two. Apart from Kedronova, Tereza Koželuhová (+2 overall), Kristýna Napoleaová (+5), Šideri Váňová, amateur Annika Kohoutek (both +6) and Eva Koželuhová (+12) did not make the cut.