Nocera takes commanding lead
French Solheim Cup player Gwladys Nocera posted a four-under-par 68 to take a commanding five-shot lead in the Ladies Spanish Open at Panoramica Golf and Country Club.
The 30-year-old’s nine-under-par total put her ahead of Wales’ Becky Brewerton, who had a 68, and first-round leader Lynnette Brooky, who had a 74.
England’s Rebecca Hudson made the most of the morning conditions to post a four-under 68 to share fourth on three-under with Spaniards Ana Belen Sanchez, who had a 68 and the 2005 Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year Elisa Serramia, who had a 69.
Nocera, who was a runner-up on three occasions on the LET last year, was the model of consistency, hitting 34 of 36 greens in regulation over the last two days and has yet to make a bogey.
She has yet to win but holds the largest 36-hole lead since England’s Kirsty Taylor led by six at the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe en route to a wire-to-wire victory.
“It was very solid golf today, I only missed two greens and even then I was only on the fringe,” said Nocera, who is the current number four on the New Star Money List.
“The wind was very strong but I like that because I’m used to it coming from Biarritz.
“I’ve been playing well but I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing to give myself a chance on Sunday.”
Brewerton, 23, from St Asaph, was the best-placed British player after firing five birdies and a bogey.
“This course is really weird. It plays completely differently in the morning to the afternoon,” she said.
“Yesterday I found it quite tricky with the wind blowing across the course but I shot level par. I probably could have been one or two under.”
Hudson, who won the Acer South African Open and the Nedbank Women’s South African Tour’s Order of Merit title in January, carded five birdies and one bogey to move into contention.
The Doncaster-based player, who works as a waitress during the winter, said: “It could have been better; I had a few lip outs and I struggled a bit on the practice round so I’m pretty happy.
“It’s all going really nicely at the moment.”
