Several players, including Dryburgh, carried by the wind

Gemma Dryburgh, the Scotswoman who led after the first round of the Lalla Meryem Cup, third stage of the Ladies European Tour in Rabat, Morocco, has experienced a kind of Black Friday. His superb 68 (-4) the day before was indeed annihilated by a modest 76 (+4) in the second round. From the first provisional, the miss from Aberdeen is thus 15th with a single by total. Everything has to be done again. Same observation for the best Frenchwoman of the first round, Ariane Provot, in verve Thursday with a card of 70 which had given her the 6th provisional rank but which this time had to accept a card of 77, synonymous with +3 total and 34th place. Tied with two other Habs who are not the first to come: Gwladys Nocera and Isabelle Boineau. That said, the trio remains in the race, just like Sophie Giquel-Bettan, 23rd at +2. The weekend will he still see this slightly chilly wind activate intermittently on the blue course of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam? A given which seemed to complicate the game and exhaust a lot of hopes, even of nervous systems ...

Suzann Pettersen, heart shaken by ups and downs

It’s no coincidence that Suzann Pettersen, the tournament’s No. 1 headliner, broke down in humor to describe the day: “If I was a little older, I think I would would have risked a heart attack. I never stopped having ups and downs along the way. Of course we succeed in birdies, but all shots from the rough are unpredictable. A very small fault and the bogeys arrive very easily. The proof with the Norwegian card: five birdies (at 2, 8, 13, 16 and 17) but also four bogeys (at 7, 11, 14 and 18). With a final card of 71, which was added to her 69 in the first round, the experienced Suzann, double winner of Grand Slam tournaments and more than twenty victories on the LPGA Tour, finally did very well. At 36, relieved to remain 3rd at -4, and therefore always favorite, she even allowed herself a comment on the young Englishwoman Georgia Hall (21, current 2nd in the European ranking and 5th tied at -2 at the end of the first two rounds played alongside his idol): "Apart from the fact that I could be his mother, I find that Georgia is a super player, who would certainly bring new blood and freshness to the European team of Solheim Cup this summer at Des Moines. ”

Lydia the Welsh, like a Laura Davies of… 1,57 meters!

New blood, and even coolness, we've seen it on sale at another Hall. Lydia Hall. Nothing, neither the changing wind, nor the disturbing rough, seems to disturb the Welshwoman, as physically solid as Laura Davies can be. Except that Lydia the Welsh is only 1,57 meters, against 1,78 meters to the sculptural icon of European women's golf of the last 30 years! “I knew that with the wind, this already difficult course would get even tougher. I had to be patient and never go out of my way. Make a maximum of pars and avoid making mistakes. Mission succeeded with four birdies for fourteen pars and a card of 68, unmatched this Friday. This is how Lydia Hall took the lead of the Lalla Meryem Cup after two rounds. With -7 total, she even offers herself two strokes ahead of Englishwoman Annabel Dimmock, 2nd at -5, three strokes on Suzann Pettersen, 3rd at -4, and four strokes on Englishwoman Felicity Johnson, 4th at -3. What to see coming!

A superb and symbolic cut for the young Agathe Sauzon

You don't have to go much further to find the best Frenchwoman after two laps. Agathe Sauzon, making a superb card of 70 this Friday, offers herself the provisional 5th rank, tied at -2 total with Georgia Hall (the famous "daughter" of Pettersen), the German Olivia Cowen and the Chinese Yan Liu . At 25, the player of the Golf des Chanalets, in the Drôme, achieves a symbolic performance. It was here in Rabat, during the 2016 edition of the Lalla Meryem Cup, that she had played her first tournament as a professional. There were a few tears at the recording. Because his cards of 80 and 74 (+10) had obviously not allowed him to pass the cut. Agathe then fought all summer, playing seven pro tournaments without success before scoring her first points (28th!) In the eighth attempt: October 29 at the Sanya Ladies Open. Ranked 111th in the 2016 Order of Merit, it was by going back to European cards (3rd last December in Marrakech, tied with Céline Boutier) that Mademoiselle Sauzon offered her second season on the LET. And this pretty cut in Morocco. Waiting for the rest!

By Nathalie Vion, in Rabat.