Golf:Japan's Miki Saiki heads into the weekend with a one shot lead at the Evian Masters. The 26-year-old from Hiroshima shot a five under par 67 to set the halfway target on nine under par at the Evian Masters Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France.
The world number 22 heads a chasing pack that includes, joint first round leaders, Maria Hjorth (69) and Shin-Ae Ahn (69), Stacy Lewis (67), the 2009 winner Ai Miyazato (68) and Angela Stanford, whose 66 was the joint lowest second-round score.
Overnight co-leader Karen Stupples kept herself in the hunt for a first Evian title with a 70 to end the day at seven under alongside Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr.
The 2010 champion Jiyai Shin had five birdies and two bogeys for a 69 to share 10th with Korean compatriot Ran Hong.
Saiki was one of the early starters and had a sensational front nine containing five birdies. She reached 10 under par with a birdie at the 11th but immediately dropped a shot at the 12th.
“Yesterday I was hitting the ball really well, and it kind of continued on to today. I was able to hit well and also putt well earlier in the round,” said Saiki through a translator.
“I kind of struggled in the end, but all in all, it was a good day. Yesterday obviously was a day of a lot rain and you didn’t know what you were going to get. Today you had no wind. The greens were consistent with the rolling.”
Saiki is currently ranked second on the Japan money list after one victory at the Fudokin Ladies and three runner-up spots.
Having finished second in 1998 and 2001 and joint runner-up in 2002, Hjorth would love to become the fourth Swedish winner of the Evian Masters, following on from the success of Helen Alfredsson (’94, ‘98 and ‘08), Catrin Nilsmark (’99) and Annika Sorenstam (2000 and 2002).
Four birdies and one bogey placed her just one shot behind the leader and she said: “I’m definitely satisfied. I didn’t hit it as close as yesterday and my putts were not as aggressive, so I left a few putts short, but I’m playing solid so I’m very happy with my round. I need to be a little more aggressive with my putts. Because they are so fast it’s easy to be a little bit too defensive with them.”
Stupples is currently two strokes off the pace after mixing five birdies with three bogeys and she said: “It was a rollercoaster: some good, some bad, but I think for the second round I’m in a good spot.
“After yesterday’s round, I put a lot of energy into playing as well as I did yesterday in that horrible weather. Today was just try and consolidate a little. To try to get anything under par was my real goal for the day and with two under I managed to do that. I’m obviously a couple of shots back so I’ve got to keep pressing forward and shoot as many birdies as I can.”
Suzann Pettersen and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement were in a group five shots off the pace at four under par, with Sophie Gustafson a stroke further back.
Melissa Reid kept herself in the running with a 70 to end two under alongside world number one Yani Tseng among others.
Anne-Lise Caudal finished in a group at one under while Christina Kim, Sandra Gal, Gwladys Nocera, Iben Tinning, Trish Johnson and Anna Nordqvist were the other European Tour members who will play the weekend after surviving the halfway cut.
