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DOHERTY LEADS AT HALFWAY STAGE OF ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL

Amanda Doherty

Amanda Doherty continued her impressive form at the ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Aviv Clinics firing a round of 67 (-5) to lead by one shot at the midway mark.

After a first round of six-under at Galgorm Castle, the 24-year-old followed it up with a round of a round of five-under at Massereene.

Doherty began her round with back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, and rolled in three more on six, seven and nine to make the turn in 31 (-5).

Despite a dropped shot on the 11th, the LPGA Tour rookie made another birdie on 13 to finish with a total of 11-under-par after 36 holes.

“Putts were going in today. I was hitting the ball well to get it close enough for them to go in, but they were just falling in,” she said.

“That was definitely the best part of my game on the front nine. I then tried to hang on on the back nine, but I was putting really well today.

“Leading is not a position I have really been in before on the LPGA, so it’s always fun. It’s nice to know that I have some good, low rounds in me for sure. The last two years on the Epson Tour was a really good learning experience for me, and I think to have put myself in contention so many times last year makes me feel a little bit more comfortable with the position that I’m in now.”

Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen – winner of the 2020 Race to Costa del Sol – and American Lauren Coughlin sit one shot back on 10-under-par.

Solheim Cup star Pedersen got off to a blistering start with four birdies in her opening four holes, she made bogeys on eight and 11 but rolled in three more birdies for a second round of 68 (-5) at Galgorm.

“It was good,” said the five-time LET winner. “Five-under is good, and it’s nice to follow up one low round with another one. I think I’m going to keep going, trying to make birdies, try and cut out some of bogeys and see what the weekend brings.

“That’s a dream start. It kind of makes you want a bit more than five-under when you’re four-under through four. They were pretty easy birdies I would say. Apart from the third, I holed a long one there. It is still good to go the rest of it one-under-par and I’m hoping I can keep making birdies on the weekend.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in contention, so it’s always nice to be up there. It’s nice to keep being up there after the first round, and then hopefully I’ll stay in contention the rest of the weekend as well.”

Coughlin also carded an…

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