Mianne Bagger retains a share lead at LET Q-School

BY iseekgolf.com | Ladies European Tour | 2004 Ladies European Tour Q-School - Stage Two | Round Two | 02 Nov 2004

Denmark’s Mianne Bagger tacked on a one over par 73 to her opening 70 to retain a share of the lead after the second round of the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour School at Riva dei Tessali GC near Bari.

The 37-year-old Australian-raised Dane, who is aiming to become the first transsexual woman to play on the LET, shares the lead on one under par 143 with Mikaela Parmlid from Sweden, who had a 72 and Miriam Nagl from Germany who added to second round 71 to her opening level par effort.

Curtis Cup player Anna Highgate from Wales, the first round co-leader with Bagger, slipped to a two over 74 and sits in a tie for fourth spot with Eva Steinberger from Austria, who had a second consecutive 72.

Carlie Butler from Australia and Josefine Skold from Sweden posted two under 70s to share the best round of the day and jump into sixth place alongside Hazel Kavanagh from Ireland, who also had a 72, and Denmark’s Lisa Holm Sorenson, who had a 71.

But it is Bagger who is seizing her opportunity with both hands around this narrow, pine-strewn course in Southern Italy.

Despite a “soft bogey” at her opening hole, the tenth, Bagger rallied with birdies at the 13th and 16th to turn in one under. But she slipped up with bogeys at the par three second and par five eighth holes for a 73.

“I struck it much better today which was a lot different to yesterday, but I didn’t putt half as well,” admitted Bagger, who was awarded the opportunity to attend qualifying school when the LET changed its previous ’must be female at birth’ stipulation to mirror the International Olympic Committee’s recommendations on trans-gender athletes.

“To be tied for the lead after two rounds gives me a comfortable feeling and I’m in a good position to realise my ambition,” she added.

Parmlid, a powerful Swede who plays regularly on the LPGA Tour, admitted to playing steadily, yet her putter also failed to reach a decent temperature on the soft greens here.

“I left myself a lot of birdie chances out there today and all of them just refused to drop,” admitted the 24-year-old from Gothenburg.

Nagl, also an LPGA regular, was happier with her end result especially after dropping three shots in her opening five holes.

“I played very well on the back nine,” said the 23-year-old from Berlin.

“I have been working very hard on my putting stroke recently and I’m used to fast greens and today it was not so good for me with my putter, but it’s a good position to be in.”

The top fifty players and ties will reach the final round on Wednesday with the top 30 and those tied after four rounds earning a full exemption to the 2005 season. All players who make the cut – which will be decided after Tuesday’s third round – but who finish outside the top 30 places will receive conditional playing privileges next year.

Next best of the Australasians is Helen Beatty, who recovered well today with a 70 to take her to a share of 16th place at 3. Amateur Lisa Jean is 27th, Elizabeth McKinnon 39th, Tamara Hyett 59th, Heidi McCulkin and Joanna Whalley 67th and Tanya Holl Paterson 82nd.

Source – LET