Turbulent would be the best way to describe day two of the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic Bonville.
With Spain’s Nuria Iturrios setting the mark in the morning groups with a superb bogey-free 67 the scene appeared set for a low scoring day, but it never eventuated.
Almost on cue, strong winds began whipping across the Bonville layout just as the afternoon groups – including most of the overnight leaders – hit off and scoring proved more difficult than the morning session had suggested.
On a day that started with 23 players in red figures, the final tally heading to the weekend is nine, testament to how tricky the scoring was.
Overnight leader Doey Choi, the young Sydney amateur whose iron game has been a revelation this week, had a see-sawing round with two early bogeys before hitting back with three birdies between the 4th and 14th.
At 1-under for the day and 7-under for the tournament she was just one off the clubhouse lead and looked to have survived the worst of the conditions when Bonville suddenly bit back.
A double bogey followed a bogey at the tricky 16th at the par-3 17th, but despite the misstep, she still heads to the weekend alone in second place.
“It was really windy out there, so I’m pleased with my score today,” was her initial reaction after signing her card.
“I think I did a really good job of keeping it together and knew that everyone else had tough conditions too, so I think I did really well out there.
“I just tried to make as few mistakes as I could and hit fairways and greens, and I had a couple of putts drop. I had a few lazy holes towards the end, but it was all right.”
Choi is a proven performer in the amateur ranks with wins at both the South Australian and Queensland Amateurs in 2018 but knows this weekend will bring different pressures.
“I’m going to be a little nervous but it’s not the first time (she’s been in contention), so I just have to block it out and play my own game,” she said.
One shot behind Choi – and five off the lead – is Western Australia’s Hannah green who was also pleased to have toured the course in even par figures in the wind.
The second-year LPGA Tour player said she couldn’t recall playing in winds quite like those that greeted the afternoon field.
“I think it’s the first time in my life I can honestly say I had a tee shot into the wind and the second shot downwind, even on a dead straight hole,” she said.
“It was tough to get the number today and then also be confident that it was the correct club to hit.
“I was very pleased with my even par. I felt like I shot under par, to be honest.
“But I felt like I left a lot out there as well, so it’s good signs for the next couple of days.”
Four players share fourth place at 2-under the card, Sweden’s Linnea Strom posting a 2-under 70 that was the second-best score of the day.
She is alongside two other Swedes, Jenny Haglund and Madelene Sagstrom, with Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord rounding out the group.
Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Spain’s Silvia Bannon are the last of the players in red figures at 1-under.
The cut fell at 7-over-par with 70 players to tackle the course at the weekend.