Aine Donegan carded a blistering second round of 63 to hold a 2-stroke clubhouse lead at the weather-affected Ford Women’s NSW Open.
The Irishwoman, making her first start since turning professional, was forced to play 36 holes on Friday after the first round was suspended at lunchtime on Thursday. She followed up her opening round 69 with a superb 8-under 63 to sign for an 11-under par total.
Starting her second round at Wollongong Golf Club three off the lead, the 23-year-old eagled the ninth, her first hole, to cut the deficit to one. Birdies then followed at the 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th as she played her opening nine holes in 6-under.
She made further gains at the first, second and fourth to reach 9-under on the day, but a bogey at the seventh saw her drop back to 8-under for the round.
“The weather felt a bit more like home, which I knew would come to my advantage a little bit,” said the 2024 Curtis Cup winner.
“I knew some people would struggle in the wind and the rain. I knew that if I just kind of kept the ball in front of me, especially off the tee on this course, you can kind of attack pins and stuff like that.
“It was obviously a dream day. I'm a little bit disappointed to finish my second last hole with a bogey, but looking forward to the weekend and yeah, delighted with the start.”
Sarah Kemp carded a 7-under round of 64 to sit in second place on 9-under as she continues her recovery from a freak golf cart incident. The Sydneysider, who also had to play 36 holes on Friday, is just 10 weeks removed from follow-up surgery which saw screws removed from her leg.
“Very unexpected; I'll absolutely take it,” said the 12-time WPGA Tour of Australasia winner. “That was just some nice and solid golf. Really got it going that second 18. I don't know how, but it just all came together. It was great.
“I finished [my first round] and I saw my parents and I said, 'I don't even know if I could play the second 18.' I went in and I had some physio, had heaps of salt, electrolytes, had three bananas and thank goodness I didn't have cramps on the second nine.”
Joint-first round leader Hannah Reeves is in third place on 7-under after a 1-under 70 alongside Daniela Darquea (Ecuador). Meanwhile, Kelsey Bennett, who shared the first round lead with Reeves, is in a share of fifth on 6-under alongside Morgane Metraux (Switzerland) and Amelia Garvey (New Zealand).
The second round will resume on Saturday morning at 7:30am, with half the field still to complete 36 holes.
