Jodi Ewart Shadoff is in great shape to claim a first LPGA Tour win, holding a four-stroke lead over her closest challenger midway through the Mediheal Championship after Friday’s matchday at Somis in California.
The 34-year-old Ewart Shadoff entered the LPGA in 2011. She seems to be starting to reap the rewards of her hard work, although a golf tournament is not won in two rounds.
After a sparkling start (64), the Englishwoman hinted at another prosperous day by scoring four birdies in the first six holes. However, she lost some of her superb in the second half of the course, finally delivering a card of 69 (-3).
This still allowed him to double his lead over the rest of the peloton, led by the Portuguese Paula Reto (70). No less than seven golfers follow tied at -6, for third place.
Due to the withdrawal of Quebecer Maude-Aimée Leblanc, bothered by an injury whose nature is unknown, only two Canadians rushed on the greens of the Saticoy Club on Friday.
Alena Sharp (71), however, is the only Maple Leaf representative who has done enough to make the weekend rounds. The Ontarian slightly improved her situation by subtracting a shot from par, which granted her the 46th level tied at -1.
Fellow countrywoman Maddie Szeryk (71) wasn’t so lucky. Although she posted an identical score to Sharp’s, she was greatly handicapped by her opening round of 76 (+4). She could not dodge the cleaver, established at +1, she who played two shots too many.
The reigning champion of the event, Finland’s Matilda Castren, will not have the opportunity to defend her crown. She is part of the first group of golfers cut, having given back-to-back cards of 73.
PGA: Pereira soars
On the PGA Tour, the Chilean Mito Pereira managed an impressive second round of 63 (-8) at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas to take first place.
The point guard stalled a total of nine birdies against a single bogey to pull off the feat. He has thus jumped 20 positions in the standings and has a cumulative of 130 (-12).
His closest pursuer, American Robby Shelton, also hit the white object 63 times, moving up 36 places. He now rests in second place, one stroke behind Pereira.
On the side of the Canadians, Adam Hadwin is the best placed after 36 holes, he who gave a second card in a row of 67 (-4). He is thus tied for ninth place, four strokes from the lead.
Adam Svensson (137; -5) and Taylor Pendrith (138; -4) also survived the ax and will be rounds this weekend. Michael Gligic and Nick Taylor, for their part, had to pack their bags hastily.