Annabel Wilson continues to lead the Irish challenge in tied 28th position after the second round, as Germany's Leonie Harm and Sweden’s amateur Meja Ortengren share the lead at the Hills Open, with just 18 holes left to play at Hills Golf & Sports Club.
Wilson carded a three-over-par 74 and slips to nine shots off the joint leaders going into the final round on Sunday. Canice Screene sits four shots back from Wilson in tied 41st position. Mayo native Screene carded a one-over-par 72 in round two and sits on six-over.
Harm produced the round of the day on Saturday, firing a bogey-free five-under-par to surge into the co-lead, alongside Ortengren.
Benefiting from calmer conditions compared to the windy opening round, the 27-year-old German started on the 10th tee and delivered a composed second round with five birdies.
"It was an early alarm, and I was still tired from yesterday because it was so windy," said Harm. "The course played really tough again today with some tricky pin positions, but I gave myself more chances and, fortunately, made the most of them with a hotter putter."
Looking ahead to the final round, Harm is taking things slow. "It’s always better to fight for wins than for cut lines," she said.
Ortengren started the day one shot off the pace and kept her nerves to join Harm.
Starting her day on the 10th tee, the amateur opened with a bogey but quickly recovered with back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th. She gave a shot back on the 15th, yet responded strongly with birdies on the 18th and the 3rd.
The 20-year-old has her brother on the bag this week. "He’s been great", she said. "He's been caddying for me a few times before, but it's been a while since the last time. It’s just fun to be out there with him - talking and taking the focus off golf for a little while."
A total of four players sit just two shots off the pace in a tie for third place.
Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson, New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori, France’s Nastasia Nadaud, and Wales’ Darcey Harry, all carded three-under par after 36 holes.
One shot further back is Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes, who sits in solo seventh place on two-under par.
Two players sit in a tie for eighth place, including England’s Alice Hewson and Australia’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
After 36 holes of action at Hills Golf & Sports Club, 65 players made the cut which fell at seven-over par.
The third and final round of the Hills Open gets underway on Sunday.
