Swedish golfer Caroline Hedwall moved two shots clear of Australian rival Alison Whitaker as the pair pulled away from the field after two rounds of the Ladies Austrian Open.
The 23-year-old Hedwall followed her opening 67 with a sparkling 66 to reach 11 under par on Saturday as Whitaker signed for a 68 to be nine under.
Then came a three-shot gap to Thailand’s Nontaya Srisawang and England’s Melissa Reid who had scores of 68 and 67 respectively, with Reid’s compatriot Laura Davies, who went round in three-under 69, a stroke further back on five-under 139.
Whitaker, 26, is in her first year on the European tour and has not had a top-10 finish in 10 events in 2012, but that seems sure to change.
“It’s been a bit of a grind this season so it’s good to get a little momentum going,” she told ladieseuropeantour.com.
Hedwall is defending her title in Wiener Neustadt and has shown little indication of the effects of her two-month absence from the tour, caused by a hip injury.
“I’m playing very solidly,” she said.
“I shot better than yesterday and yesterday was good so I’m very happy. The course suits me really well. I love the course. It’s in great shape and suits my eye.”