Lydia Ko is 1-over the card after the first two rounds of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open being held in Adelaide.
After starting with a bogey on the opening hole of the first day, Ko grabbed a shot back on the third before a double bogey on the 11th and birdies on 13 and 17 to finish 1-over.
Royal Adelaide seemed a little kinder to everyone on the second day. Ko again starting with a bogey before two birdies across an up and down round finishing at even par and in danger of missing the cut.
Ko’s hitting partners across the two days had varied results. Australia’s Hannah Green shot 69 on the first day and a 71 on the second to be shots from the lead midway through day two.
South Korea’s Hee Young Park finished with a par on the first day and managed to pick up 3 shots on the second to still be in the hunt.
Englishwoman Jodi Ewart Shadoff hit a 7-under par 66 to take the lead on day one of the tournament just as she did in 2019.
But on day two, before Ewart Shadoff evens starts her round, South Korea’s Inbee Park has gone past her and is 3 shots ahead of her score on 10-under.
But it was Ewart Shadoff’s opening day at Royal Adelaide. She did not miss a single fairway, hit 15 of 18 greens, and had just 26 putts in the perfect morning conditions. She made seven birdies, and not a single bogey.
“I really love the golf courses here,” she said afterwards.
“I played well last year. I played well here when it was here a couple of years ago too, so I think just go out there tomorrow and try and do the same thing.”
Ewart Shadoff is the world No. 87 which tells you she is no slouch, despite the lack of ticks in the ‘W’ column. She was second behind In-Kyun Kim in the Women’s British Open in 2017 and fourth in the US Women’s Open in 2013, and has represented Europe in three Solheim Cups.
Last year, she fell away on the final day and ended up tied-eighth. This time around, she feels more optimistic. “Yeah, I feel ready now,” she said.
“I feel like every part of my game is up to the challenge. It’s hopefully going to be a good year and hopefully, get that win.’’
