The course battled back during the second round of the Twin Bridges Championship. Only one player who started in the day in the top five remains in the top five heading into the final round. As the greens started to firm up and the wind began to blow, the scores started rising as well. Only ten players were able to break par in round two and seven of them are currently in the top 10.
Jenny Bae is looking to go wire-to-wire to secure her second Epson Tour victory in less than a week. Bae was able to pull out an under-par round in difficult conditions while players were dropping off the leaderboard around her. The Epson Tour rookie made four birdies and two bogeys to sign for a 2-under 69 and carry a two-shot lead into Sunday.
“The greens were a little bit firmer today and the wind picked up a little bit in the afternoon wave,” said Bae. “My short game helped me not only today but yesterday as well. I had a few holes that I struggled on but I was able to make up for them quick.”
Bae is still riding the confidence she gained from last week’s win and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Bae was still attacking pins on a day when players were avoiding them, and it paid off. A victory for Bae would likely move her inside the top 10 in the Race for the Card and right into contention to grab an LPGA Tour card after just three events.
“I still feel confident, that hasn’t gone away,” said Bae. “I am in the final group again tomorrow, so I am just going to sleep and feel like I am restarting my round.”
Roberta Liti went off in the morning wave and posted the number for everyone to chase. Liti was tied for the lead by the time Bae teed off for her second round and the rollercoaster round from the Italian tied the best round of the day. Liti started the day three shots back and was only able to cut into the lead by just a shot despite having six birdies and an eagle on her card. The 28-year-old has some experience near the top of the leaderboard in 2023, with four top-10 finishes, but a victory at the Twin Bridges Championship would be a massive step forward for Liti, who has struggled to find her footing as a rookie on the LPGA Tour.
“It was pretty windy today,” said Liti. “I had a rollercoaster day. I think I only made like 6 pars and then made six birdies, an eagle and then five bogeys. It was just an up-and-down day but with these conditions that can happen. The course is tough and doesn’t forgive many bad shots.”
Gabriela Ruffels posted one of the best rounds in the afternoon wave with a 2-under 69, proving just how difficult the conditions were. The Twin Bridges Championship is Ruffels’ first start since the Champions Fore Change Invitational in early June. Since her last start, the 2023 Race for the Card leader played in two majors on the LPGA Tour, making both cuts at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club and the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. Now she will look to grab her third Epson Tour victory, only sitting four shots back with 18 to play.
“I didn’t realize how tough it was playing until I was walking up 18 and saw the scores, which were drastically different,” said Ruffels. “It was tough out there and I felt it. The wind was up, and the pins were tough so I can see why it was a difficult day out there.”
Rounding out the top of the leaderboard are Agathe Laisne, Hira Naveed and Amelia Williamson who all sit in a tie fourth at 3-under.
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