SA trio joins weekend action in UK

Laurette Maritz Sunshine Ladies Tour champions Ashleigh Simon and Stacy Bregman will join in the action this afternoon in the third round of the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club.

Simon fired an opening 67 to finish one stroke behind first round pacesetter Sophie Giquel-Bettan from France, but the two-time Ladies European Tour winner slipped to a tie for ninth in Friday’s second round.

The Wanna Be A Champion player mixed three birdies with three bogeys for an even-par 72 to finish four strokes off the pace from Englishwomen Alex Peters, who matched Simon’s course record 63 to take pole position at 11-under-par 133.

Peters leads by two from Charley Hull, who returned a 67, while Giquel-Bettan finished in third on eight under after signing for a 70.

Bregman, a three-time winner on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this season, opened with a 70 and reeled in five birdies on her way to a 71 and a share of 19^th on three under 141.

Maritz improved four strokes on a first round 75 to make the cut on the number, but Monique Smit (78-70), LET rookie Melissa Eaton (74-76), LET winner Connie Chen (76-75), Nicole Garcia (78-78) and Bonita Bredenhann from Namibia (74-82) will miss the weekend action.

PHOTO – Ashleigh Simon; credit Matthew Withers – Action Pix/Lexar.