Simon takes route 66 to lead second-round at ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters

South African Ashleigh Simon hit the front at nine under after a 66 at Buckinghamshire Golf Club on Friday, despite suffering from a groin injury

(Denham, Buckinghamshire, England - Friday 17^th August 2012) -- South African Ashleigh Simon hit a six under par 66 at Buckinghamshire Golf Club on Friday to take pole position on a second day of blazing sunshine at the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters.
The Johannesburg 23 year old began the day three behind the overnight co-leaders, but birdied the third and then picked up seven shots in six holes with five birdies in a row from the fifth, followed by an eagle at the 10^th.
That made her eight under for the day and 11 under for the tournament, before she then dropped two shots on 12 and 13.
Another eagle chance at the 14^th fell just short and the resultant birdie was countered by a three-putt bogey at the last, but it was enough to open up a two stroke lead at nine under par.
“It was a good day out there; a disappointing finish, to finish with a three-putt, but all my drops were three-putts. It shows that I hit it good and just left myself in some awkward positions with those shots but other than that I played really well,” said Simon, with two wins on the Ladies European Tour, including the 2011 Portugal Ladies Open.
“Everything seemed to be on. I hit a lot of good shots but had to convert the putts. It was mainly the putting, I felt really confident. The greens here are so good you just have to pick your line and trust it. It makes it a lot easier to putt on greens when they are so good like this.
“I birdied five all the way through nine and then eagled my tenth hole: It was quite a good stretch and then unfortunately had two three-putts in the middle for two drops and then got it back. I played really solid towards the end, lipped out for birdie on my 17^th and then unfortunately three-putted the 18^th.
“My first birdie putt on the third about 20 foot as well and from there I hit them all inside 10 foot, all my birdies. The 10^th hole was around 20 foot.
“At the 13^th hole I missed an eight footer and then I had another 15 footer for eagle on 14, I had a good look at that and just missed.
“I hit some really good shots but I felt comfortable on the greens. Whenever I got up I felt like I could just about hole it.
“The wind has picked up and it did make it tricky on that back nine. I think if you can get through your front nine a few under par and the back nine just hold on, you’ll do well.”

Lydia Hall from Wales

First round co-leader Lydia Hall of Wales followed her opening day 66 with a 71 to end seven under, alongside Beth Allen of the United States who shot a second-round 69.
Fifth-season professional Hall, who is targeting her maiden win on the Ladies European Tour, had four birdies against three bogeys on the card and was only one shot off the lead before driving her ball into the lake in front of the par-four 17^th green with her drive.
“It was a tough day. It’s playing a lot more difficult today because the breeze has got up drastically this morning. It was a real grind out there and just had to get the ball in the middle of the green and two putts,” said the 24-year-old Hall, from Bridgend.
“I’m a little bit frustrated but I would have taken that at the start of the week. Two behind Ashleigh, currently, I would have taken that on Tuesday morning when I arrived here.”
On her plan of attack for the final round, she commented: “To be honest, it depends on the weather tomorrow and if the wind gets up, it’s just going to be another grind. It’s just a tough golf course. When the breeze gets up it’s a completely different golf course. A lot of the par fours, you are hitting a four-iron, five-iron into. It purely depends on the conditions.”

Beth Allen from the USA

With six birdies and one bogey on the card, Allen’s challenge could have been even better had she not double bogeyed the fourth.
“It was pretty solid apart from one hole but I’ve been putting well for a change, which was good,” said the 30-year-old Californian, in her fifth season as a Ladies European Tour professional.
“The course is challenging because some of the driving holes, you have to think your way around a bit. You can’t always hit driver, so that’s difficult but its fun at the same time because there are par fives that you can get to and it’s risk-reward.”
On her plans for the final round, she added: “I’m going to try to hit it closer and make more putts and maybe a couple of smarter decisions off the tee, but I’m playing well and I’m just going to try and keep doing what I’m doing.”
Frenchwoman Julie Greciet and Swede Michaela Parmlid are four shots off the lead on five under. First-round co-leaders Henrietta Zuel and Laura Davies struggled with rounds of 75 and 77 respectively, with the afternoon players still out on the course.

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