Julia Engström took another step forward and took an option on winning the Magical Kenya Ladies Open midway through to pocket a first title, after taking a lead of six strokes.

Julia Engstrom leads in the second round

Ladies European Tour 2019. Magical Kenya Ladies Open, Kenya. Julia Engstrom leads in the second round Credit: Tristan Jones

Julia Engström retains the lead with a superb 66 (-6) halfway down the Baobab course at Vipingo Ridge, 30 km north of Mombasa. The 18-year-old Swede did not weaken to -11 after two laps, ahead of Kelsey MacDonald, Ursula Wikstrom and Esther Henseleit, who are all looking for their first wins. Michele Thomson, Sanna Nuutinen and Cheyenne Woods suddenly found themselves further behind, seven lengths from the lead.

At the French, Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, the best tricolor, occupies the 8th place of the classification at -1 (143). Only ten players score below par after 36 holes. Five other French golfers cross the cut set at +7. Justine Dreher thus points to 23rd place at +2 (146) ahead of Camille Chevalier (26th at +3), Agathe Sauzon and Valentine Derrey (43rd at +4) and Isabelle Boineau (50th at +5).

At the start of tee number 10, Julia was quick to pick up where she left off the day before, setting up birdies on four of her first five holes.

With only one bogey on the par-4 of 16 out of the returning nine with a total of 33, the young woman put it back on the next 9 with a new 33 (-6 total), with permission for birdies on the four a par-3, the six a par-5 and the nine a par-4.

"I finished well ,. I was playing solid and hit more greens in regulation today so I'm happy with my lap, ”said Engström, who finished 40 e on the Order of Merit list and fifth longest hitter, with an average driver distance of 250 yards.

She added, “Obviously it's golf and anything can happen. It's a difficult course, you have to play long and precise. I am very happy with my first two laps.

“This is my first time in Kenya and I am really happy to enjoy it. It's hot and I'm enjoying the last sun of the year because in Sweden it's cold right now. ”

Scottish pair MacDonald and Thomson also played in the morning and shot a pair of 68s, in the first group from 10 e you.

MacDonald later said, "I hit it big off the tee, gave myself a lot of chances and as I put it was really solid today it was great to come out in the first group when it was a little less wet than. I'm really .. happy with my performance today

70 players passed the cut, reduced to seven above par, including four African players: Lejan Lewthwaite (T17th), Stacy Lee Bregman (T23rd), Maha Haddioui and Georgia Oboh (two T63rd).