Photos: © Tristan Jones / LET

Following an excellent 68 (-4) to start the Lalla Aicha Tour School on the magnificent course of the Palm Golf Ourika in Marrakech, Manon Gidali signs this Monday a no less interesting 70 (-2) on the no less magnificent Amelkis Golf Club, completing her turn with a nice birdie on par 5 of 15. With a total score of -6 (138), she nevertheless moved back to the leaderboard in fifth place, joined by her compatriot Emma Grechi, soon 21 years old, author of a superb 67 (-5) on the Amelkis.

The two young women, however, remain in contact with the leaders of this European Cards final secured at -8 (136) by a trio made up of the Belgian Leslie Cloots, the English Sian Evans and the Swedish Linnea Strom, eight points under the par , one more than the German Esther Henseleit (69), who also played her second round at Amelkis Golf Club.

Evans, 27, of Gillingham, who launched a crowdfunding to cover his trip to the Tour School, said: “I started off pretty well. I made several birdies in a row and had a few good putts, which kicked off. I stayed stable with a birdie on 10 and a lot of starts at the finish. "

Evans thanked her coach, former European Tour player Zane Scotland, for helping her find more consistency in her swing.

Cloots, 24, from Antwerp, said: “I had a great time today. I made six birdies and only one bogey. The weather is good and the course is in very good condition. I played here last week and I feel really confident. I can not wait until tomorrow. "

Ström, who won the B prequalification at Amelkis last week by six strokes, with a total of 72 (-23), continued his love affair with the golf course.

The 22-year-old Hovas player said: “I played very calm and was good from the tee, so I gave myself a lot of good shots on the green. I did an eagle on the 15th, which helped me a lot. I had a good start on the driver, then iron 4 and putt five meters. It's a fun course to play and the greens roll well. "

Henseleit of Hamburg, who was presented as a future star of European women's golf, was a little frustrated with his turn, but then said: “I started really well with two birdies on the first two holes and played a few easy pars. On the ninth hole I made a stupid bogey, but I thought, "There are other birdie possibilities out there." I did two more on the 11 and 14, then I ended up with -3. I think the Palm Golf Ourika is more difficult because if you hit a bad shot it's a lot worse than here. In Amelkis, you have more free space around the greens. "

The leader of the first round, the Indian Astha Madan, occupies the 10th position tied with the Austrian Nadine Dreher.

Madan had a nightmarish start after taking a quintuple bugy on the tenth hole of the Palm Golf Ourika, but recovered with four birdies on the returning nine, before registering two bogueys up front in a 74.

Madan explained: “I started with a tee shot where I slipped because the grass was a little wet in the morning and I wandered around the hole before returning the ball. I knew I was hitting him well, so I picked up with the same frame of mind as yesterday, one shot at a time and here I am. Of course, that wasn't how I wanted to start, but I knew it was one of those things I wanted to avoid. After that I committed to every putt. I could see the line today and took in some birdies. Two bogeys caught up with me but it was still there. "

A delicate day also for Mathilda Cappeliez, 14th after eighteen holes but now 39th at +1 (145) due to the fault of a heavy 75 (+3) on the Palm Golf Ourika. The golfer of Evian sees at the same time Emilie Alonso and Agathe Sauzon, respectively 19th at -2 (142) and 34th in par (144), pass him ahead.

Among the other notable players, Bronte Law is tied for 14th and Chloé Leurquin and Vikki Laing, two LET regulars, are tied for 25th.

There will be a cut to keep the best 60 players and tied after 72 holes. After 90 holes, the first five will win category 5c, while those in positions 6 to 25 will become members of category 8 of LET 2019.