Joint leader Navarrosa hungry for Joburg Ladies Open title

American Brianna Navarrosa took advantage of a weather delay to grab a much-needed meal, and it certainly fuelled her hunger to win as she went on and claimed a share of the clubhouse lead in Friday’s incomplete second round of the Joburg Ladies Open at Randpark Golf Club.

A 45-minute weather delay and then an afternoon of rain meant the second round will have to be completed on Saturday morning.

Navarrosa was one of those who managed to finish her round with a 69 to share the lead with France’s Celine Herbin – who signed for a 67 – on 11 under par.

They are one stroke clear of France’s Camille Chevalier, who posted a 66 earlier in the day.

Casandra Alexander is the leading South African on six under following her second round of 71.

Navarrosa packs a powerful game into her five-foot frame, and on Friday she again relished the opportunity to be aggressive on Randpark’s Firethorn course.

“You can be aggressive into these greens, which are really receptive because of the weather. So being able to throw my irons and wedges right at the pins has been really nice,” she said.

She did exactly that when she returned from the weather delay and made three consecutive birdies.

“I think the delay felt like a fresh start for me. I was just really hungry, so coming in during that weather delay really helped me. But if you had told me I’d play like this in this weather I would’ve been surprised. My main goal was just to stay patient, keep my head straight, and take it one shot at a time. I’m excited for the weekend. I’ll just put it all out there on the weekend.”

Alongside her, Herbin has also taken advantage of the opportunity to play the aggressive golf she enjoys.

“I really enjoy this course, and the greens are running so pure. I like to be aggressive and go for the flags. But I’ve been working hard. It’s my 15th year fulltime on the Ladies European Tour and I like to work hard to still be competitive,” she said.

SCORES

-11 – Celine Herbin (FRA) 68 67
-11 – Brianna Navarrosa (USA) 66 69
-10 – Camille Chevalier (FRA) 70 66
-9 – Kirsten Rudgeley (AUS) 70 67
-9 – Jess Baker (BRI) 67 70, Maha Haddioui (MAR) 69 68
-8 – Tina Mazarino (NOR) 69 69
-8 – Ana Pelaez Trivino (ESP) 71 67, Kajsa Arwefjall (SWE) 71 67
-7 – Laura Beveridge (SCO) 67 72
-7 – Pia Babnik (SVN) 68 71, Lydia Hall (WAL) 68 71, Sophie Witt (GER) 70 69, Agathe Laisne (FRA) 66 73
-6 – April Angurasaranee (THA) 70 70
-6 – Alessia Nobilio (ITA) 72 68, Anna Foster (IRL) 71 69, Emma Falcher (FRA) 70 70, Casandra Alexander 69 71, Cara Gainer (ENG) 69 71, Ariane Klotz (FRA) 66 (+1) [16], Vanessa Knecht (SUI) 70 (-3) [15]
-5 – Lucie Vachova (CZE) 72 69
-5 – Verena Gimmy (GER) 70 71, Sofie Kibsgaard (DEN) 71 70, Danielle du Toit 71 70, Ginnie Ding (HKG) 72 69, Morgane Metraux (SUI) 69 72, Anna Zanusso (ITA) 71 70, Cara Gorlei 73 (-5) [16]
-4 – Celina Sattelkau (GER) 73 69
-4 – Momoka Kobori (NZL) 71 71, Emie Peronnin (FRA) 69 73, Gabrielle Venter 72 70, Luna Sobron Galmes (ESP) 69 73, Amelia Garvey (NZL) 71 71, Olivia Cowan (GER) 71 71, Alice Hewson (ENG) 70 72, Aunchisa Utama (THA) 72 (-3) [16]
-3 – Kelsey Bennett (AUS) 70 73
-3 – Justice Bosio (AUS) 67 76, Hannah Screen (ENG) 69 74, Patricia Isabel Schmidt (GER) 70 73, Madelene Stavnar (NOR) 70 73, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 72 71, Annabell Fuller (ENG) 71 72, Alexandra Forsterling (GER) 72 71, Blanca Fernandez (ESP) 70 73, Darcey Harry (WAL) 71 72, Louisa Carlbom (SWE) 69 74, Zane Kleynhans 73 (-3) [15], Hannah Darling (SCO) 74 (-4) [15]
-2 – Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP) 75 69
-2 – Corinne Viden (SWE) 71 73, Anna Huang (CAN) 74 70, Anna Morgan (USA) 72 72, Ana Dawson (IMN) 72 72, Pranavi Urs (IND) 70 74, Charlotte Heath (ENG) 72 72, Dorthea Forbrigd (NOR) 69 (+2) [16]
Missed the cut:-
-1 – Lily May Humphreys (ENG) 71 74
-1 – Lois Lau (FRA) 73 72, Esme Hamilton (ENG) 72 73, Fernanda Lira (MEX) 75 70, Hannah Burke (ENG) 73 72, Tvesa Malik (IND) 72 73, Emma Grechi (FRA) 72 73, Diksha Dagar (IND) 72 73, Amaia Latorre (ESP) 73 (-1) [15]
Par – Lee-Anne Pace 72 74
Par – Meghan MacLaren (ENG) 72 74, Caitlyn Macnab 71 75, Romy Meekers (NED) 70 76, Patricie Mackova (CZE) 73 73
+1 – Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL) 73 74
+1 – Kiera Floyd 71 76, Amy Taylor (ENG) 73 74, Klara Davidson Spilkova (CZE) 74 73, Gemma Clews (ENG) 75 72, Lisa Coetzer (a) 75 72, Amy Lee (USA) 69 78, Lorna McClymont (SCO) 72 75, Emma Spitz (AUT) 75 72, Olivia Mehaffey (NIR) 73 (+1) [15], Luca Thompson (WAL) 72 (+2) [15]
+2 – Anne-Charlotte Mora (FRA) 73 75
+2 – Ayako Uehara (JPN) 75 73, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 74 74, Lianna Bailey (ENG) 74 74, Cecilie Finne-Ipsen (DEN) 71 77, Chloe Salort (FRA) 70 78, Tereza Melecka (CZE) 73 75, Maria Parra (ESP) 76 72, Alexandra Swayne (ISV) 72 76, Thalia Martin (ENG) 72 76, Agathe Sauzon (FRA) 76 72, Nadia van der Westhuizen 70 (+5) [16], Katharina Mühlbauer (AUT) 75 (Par) [16]
+3 – Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 75 74
+3 – Avani Prashanth (IND) 75 74
+4 – Louise Rydqvist (SWE) 75 75
+4 – Stacy Bregman 76 74, Roberta Liti (ITA) 76 74, Gabriella Cowley (ENG) 74 76, Harang Lee (ESP) 70 (+7) [16]
+5 – Hitaashee Bakshi (IND) 77 74
+5 – Marta Martin (ESP) 75 76
+6 – Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 77 75
+6 – Lucie Malchirand (FRA) 76 76, Sanna Nuutinen (FIN) 77 (+2) [15]
+7 – Emily Penttila (FIN) 76 77
+7 – Doris Chen (TPE) 75 78
+8 – Aine Donegan (IRL) 81 73
+8 – Andrea Lignell (SWE) 78 76, Ellen Hume (ENG) 78 76
+9 – Hayley Davis (ENG) 80 75
+9 – Jordan Rothman 77 78
+10 – Amalie Leth-Nissen (DEN) 75 81
+12 – Kaiyuree Moodley 78 80
+20 – Thalia Kirby (ENG) 80 (+13) [15]