Sport

Wadsworth in share of lead

HELEN WADSWORTH from Wales fashioned a birdie at the final hole for a second round of 67 to force her way into a share of the…

Sat Aug 10 1996 - 01:00

HELEN WADSWORTH from Wales fashioned a birdie at the final hole for a second round of 67 to force her way into a share of the halfway lead in the McDonaId's WPGA Championship over the King's course at Gleneagles yesterday.

Wadsworth finished at seven under par on 137 alongside Marie Laura de Lorenzi from France and Germany's Tina Fischer. They lead by one stroke from Spanish golfer Laura Navarro who produced three eagles in her course record equalling round of 66.

Wadsworth has every incentive to maintain her challenge. This represents her chance to escape having to pre-qualify for the British Open at Woburn next week. "I have had a slow start to the season and not had my nerves tested so far this year," she explained.

There was no evidence of this when she followed birdies at the fifth and sixth holes with an eagle at the next where she chipped into the hole from 15 feet for her three. Coming home, Wadsworth holed crucial par-saving single putts at the 15th and 16th before finding the green with a four iron second for her birdie at the long closing hole.

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There were eagles galore on a day of low scoring but not for world number one Laura Davies who struggled to a 74. By contrast, Scottish amateur Mhairi McKay cheered the gallery of over 7,500 spectators with a marvellous 66 to finish two strokes off the lead.

McKay, a member of the winning Curtis Cup side in June, was aided by her father Peter who carried her clubs. He plays a lot of golf here and was a great help because he can read the subtle borrows on the greens," she explained.

After gathering an impressive haul of seven birdies, McKay admitted that her aim before the first round was to make the cut. "It is a dream come true to play so well. I am hitting the ball well and hopefully want to keep playing like this but I can't complain whatever happens now, said McKay after her round.

Irish hopes faded when Maureen Madill, Aideen Rogers and Tracy Eakin all missed the cut which fell at 148, four over par. Madill, despite a birdie at the final hole, was one stroke too many with a 74 which left her on 149 with Rogers on 153 following a 73 and Eakin a further stroke behind after a 75.