Pace, Reto make Michigan weekend

Former Ladies European Tour number one Lee-Anne Pace and LPGA Tour rookie Paula Reto will join the action this weekend after solid performances in the Meier LPGA Classic in Michigan.

Pace carded successive one-under-par 71s at the Blythefield Country Club to grab a share of 21^st on two under 140. The Pearl Valley golfer lags six shots behind Korean Inbee Park, who doubled up on 66s to gain a two shot lead on Suzanne Petterson of Norway.

Although she posted the same score on consecutive days, Pace took dissimilar routes over the two days at the par-71 layout in Grand Rapids.

After trading birdies for bogeys over the first four holes, she reels in birdies at the eighth and ninth, but lost the advantage with a double bogey at the 10^th. She knocked in a short putt at the par-three 12^th and completed the loop in pars for her opening 70.

In the second round, the eight-time European Ladies Tour winner interrupted a run of straight pars just once with a birdie at the par-five 11^th.

Meanwhile Reto followed a first round 72 with a 71 to claim a share of 45^th on one over.

The Bloemfontein native had one birdie and two bogeys on her card in round one, and reeled in three birdies to offset three bogeys in the second round.

Three-time Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Ashleigh Simon rallied with a superb 67 to reverse the damage of a costly 78 in the first round, but despite her valiant effort, the 23-year-old Joburg golfer missed the cut, set at 145, by one agonising shot.

PHOTO – Former Ladies European Tour number one, Lee-Anne Pace; credit Luke Walker.
PHOTO – Paula Reto; credit Scott Miller.