Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen stayed on course for a unique double after leading her team to a two-stroke lead on Day 2 of the inaugural Saudi Ladies Team International.
Pedersen – along with her team Scott Michele Thompson and South African Cassandra Hall – finished the day on 27-under-par at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club on Wednesday. The Dane won the Aramco Saudi Ladies International last week,
Team Nututinen stayed in second spot ahead of Team De Roey, Team Henry and Team Engstrom in joint third on 23-under-par.
Pedersen reeled off five birdies and an eagle for a 66 to play the lead role for her team.
“We are keeping our spirits high, making lots of birdies and we are looking great for tomorrow,” Pedersen said.
“My focus is on the team this week and I am going to do my best regardless, for the team or the individual, and I hope I can keep making birdies and we can get it done as a team tomorrow.”
Her teammate Thomson added: “We are loving playing together and having a good time. It’s a great new event and we are here for Emily to make all the birdies and we are here to make all the pars.
“I don’t think she realises how nice it us for us to be part of her team it gives us a confidence boost that she picked us and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Heading the individual standings with one round to go is Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes.
She fired a course-record equalling 65 (-7) to take a one-shot lead from Pedersen at ten-under-par.
“I hit the ball really good,” Galmes said. “I think I only missed one green and the key to my round was the putter.
“I feel like you have to be accurate with your long game on this course and luckily I like to play with the wind, which I did yesterday and last week.”
The overnight leader Sanna Nuutinen (-6) and Anne van Dam remained in touch of the leaders on seven-under, with English star Charley Hull (-5) also in contention with one round to go.
Georgia Hall, runner up behind Pedersen last week, bounced back from a poor opening round to match her own course record of 65 and move to four-under.
“I found putting the disappointment of last week behind me hard, especially with such a quick turnaround,” said the 2018 Women's British Open champion.
“It’s obviously quite a different format of things and to be honest my head really wasn’t quite in it yesterday. I did play very well today, so it was good to get a very low round in. I kind of needed it after yesterday.”
