South Africa’s Gorlei seizes lead in 2nd round of Magical Kenya Ladies Open
By Collins Amanga, February 9, 2024
South Africa’s Cara Gorlei surged ahead in the second round of the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open, carding a 1-under par 72 to bring her total to 5-under par, 141, securing the lead as the tournament progresses into the weekend.
Gorlei, initially tied for the lead with England’s Eleanor Givens and Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, demonstrated her determination from the outset, notching three birdies in the first three holes. Despite a setback with a bogey on the par-5 seventh, she completed the front nine with a score of 35.
Gorlei promising note
Her back nine started on a promising note, with three birdies in the first four holes, but a double bogey on the par-4 fourteenth altered her momentum. Struggling through the final stretch, Gorlei encountered bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes, resulting in a back-nine score of 37. Nonetheless, she maintained her lead heading into the weekend’s play.
Cara holds a one-stroke lead over 20-year-old Nataliya Gusevan, a debutant on the Ladies European Tour, who posted a 3-under par 70 for the round, bringing her total to 4-under par, 142.
Italy’s Alesandra Fanali, who briefly led the round, finds herself in a four-way tie for third place alongside Japan’s Ayako Uehara, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini, and Singapore’s Shannon Tan, all with overall scores of 3-under par, 143.
The standout performance of the round came from 23-year-old Samantha Bruce of the Philippines, who carded a flawless 5-under par 68, propelled by five birdies, bringing her tournament total to 2-under par 144 and placing her in a tie for seventh heading into Moving Day.
The cut line was set at 6-over par, 152, with 67 players advancing to compete over the weekend for a share of the tournament’s 300,000 Euros (KShs 51,900,000) prize fund.
None of the five Kenyan players in the event made the cut, with Naomi Wafula finishing highest among them with a 13-over par 159, tying for 95th place.
Jacquelyne Walter, who started solidly with a 2-over par round, struggled on Friday with a 13-over par score, bringing her total to 15-over par 161, tying her for 100th place.
Debutant Kellie Gachaga posted identical scores of 81 on both days, totaling 16-over par 162, while Chanelle Wangari finished with an 18-over par 164. Mercy Nyanchama improved with a round of 80 on Friday, ending with a total of 27-over par 173.
Moving Day action kicks off on Saturday at 8:59 a.m. with Dorota Zalewska and Lily May Humphreys, while the leaders tee off at 1:15 PM.
Gorlei reaction
Reacting to her round two performance, Gorlei revealed, that day two was tougher than day one.
“Today was tougher than yesterday but somehow, I managed to put in a good score after some good and bad runs during the eighteen holes.
“I started birdie, birdie, par, birdie got off to a hot start and then I had a nice little four-putt that set me back a little bit and then came in slow. To start the back nine, I had another three in a row, so that was great, but also still just came in slow; the putting was just very hot and cold.
“It took me a little while to get over the four putts that’s why I guess why I slowed down but once I started the back nine I was like come on let’s just get something going here so you just got to put it in play on this course and I didn’t do that as well as yesterday but I’m still happy with the under par round,” Gorlei.