Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall hit a hole-in-one as part of a seven-under 65 that gave her a one-shot lead after yesterday’s second round of the Women’s Australian Open.
Hedwall aced the par-three 16th and also eagled the par-five eighth along with five birdies and two bogeys to reach 11-under 133, one shot ahead of world No. 2 Suzanne Pettersen of Norway.
Pettersen, who shot 66 to lead after the first round, had a 68 at Victoria Golf Club which included five birdies and one bogey.
Photo: EPA
Australian amateur Minjee Lee was a further shot back at nine-under after a 67.
Hedwall said she was not aware she had a hole-in-one at 16 until she reached the green.
“I couldn’t see it and the crowd didn’t want to yell because Laura [Davies] was hitting off on No. 17, so we walked up there and they were like: ‘It went in,’” Hedwall said. “Yesterday, I hit a full seven-iron over the green [for bogey at 16] and it was basically the same yardage today. So I hit a softer seven-iron. It covered the pin the whole way and I just saw it bounce once and hit the pin, but I didn’t see it go in.”
Fellow Swede Anna Nordqvist had the round of the day with a 64 which set a new course record for women and was tied for fourth at eight-under with Holly Clyburn of England and world No. 4 Lydia Ko of New Zealand.
Hedwall’s ace at 16 gave her the outright lead, but she briefly lost it to Lee, before her birdie, eagle, birdie finish.
“I’m driving pretty well,” Hedwall said. “I missed a couple of drives yesterday and today, but I managed to save a couple of bogeys, and I’m still making a lot of birdies and also eagles.”
The 17-year-old Lee, who was runner-up at last week’s Women’s Australian Masters, is vying again for a tournament victory after a second round which included an eagle and three birdies.
“It was such a slow start,” Lee said. “I started with nine pars. I was just patient and it came together late in the round.”
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng shot a 73 to just make the cut with an even-par 144, while fellow countrywoman Candie Kung carded a 75 for two-over 146 and will not take part in the final two rounds.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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