Ström maintains lead going into penultimate day of Magical Kenya Ladies Open

• The Magical Kenya Ladies Open is part of the European Tour
• It is being staged at the Vipingo Ridge for the second time
• It concludes on Sunday where the winner will be crowned

Sweden’s Linnea Ström holds a three-shot lead over second placed Nuria Iturrioz of Spain heading into the penultimate day of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open at the Vipingo Ridge.

Ström carded a round of 73 at the end of the second day of action on Friday to take her total for the European Tour tournament to 3-under par 141 after 36 holes.

On the first nine, Linnea carded 37 – two worse than in the opening round – courtesy of birdies at the second and seventh holes and having dropped a shot at the fourth and two at the eighth. She had a better back nine – carding 36 courtesy of a birdie at the 11th and dropping a shot at the 14th.

“I felt like I played better golf today than yesterday – I had eight birdies yesterday and three today, so that makes a big difference. We didn’t have as much wind on the front nine, but I couldn’t get it going; I had a double on eight, which cost me a bit today but overall, I feel happy with where my game is at; I just didn’t get the scoring as good today,” she said after the conclusion of action on Friday.

She added; “I feel like I was better off the tee today, which is important on this course, but my putting wasn’t as good today – if I were putting like I was yesterday, I would have scored better as well. I thought the pins were a bit closer to the edge today, but the greens and fairways continue to be firm, so you have to think one more time before you hit. What’s important for me is to focus on what I can do and to build my confidence, and hopefully, I can finish on the top soon.”

Nuria shrugged off the difficulties of round one to card a total of 70, having holed six birdies and only dropping four shots on the day. She is now a shot better than the quartet of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann, Wales’ Becky Morgan, Scotland’s Michele Thomson, and Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby that is tied for third with a total score of 1-over par145.

Part of the action at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open

The course continued playing tough with only four players carding under-par and better scores. Sixty-two players made the cut – which was today set at 11-over par – to play in the final two rounds.

Mercy Nyanchama was the nearest to the cut line among the Kenyans, missing it by three shots. And finishing tied in 74th.

Meanwhile, Vipingo Ridge are hoping their event will become a permanent annual fixture on the sporting calendar as they look at making the occasion bigger and better every year.

The tournament, first held in 2019 before taking a two-year break due to COVID-19-related disruptions, is part of the Ladies European Tour (LET).

In partnership with tournament organisers U.COM Event, Vipingo Ridge currently has a five-year contract with the LET but its chairman, Alastair Cavenagh, says there is consideration to make it a lasting event.

“We hope it is going to become a permanent feature. Our contract with the Ladies European Tour is five years; we are into the second year now, but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be a permanent feature. So, let us wait and see,” he said.