AYRSHIRE (Scotland) — Don’t listen to the doom-and-gloom forecasts from the Met Office for the weekend. Stark warnings were sounded on Thursday at Dundonald links as a surging Swede launched an attack.
Maja Stark’s second-round 7-under-65 at the Freed Group Women’s Scottish Open put her in contention. The 23-year old finished only two strokes behind the Japanese leader, Hinako Schibuno.
Stark, who had a back-nine run of five consecutive birdies, slashed Shibuno’s lead with an offensive as robust and driving as if it were being directed from a tank commander in the turret.
Shibuno who had led overnight after a 64-hole opening round, repelled those menacing attacks with a spirited score of 68, solidifying her position on the summit, at 12 under, but Stark’s thrust gave the leader much to think about.
Stark’s only thought during the first part of her game was a searing migraine.
Stark said with a grimace, “It was there the first six-holes and every time that I went down to look at a putt it felt like my forehead was about to burst.” Funny enough, some Herald reader experience the same excruciating feeling when they read this correspondent’s rants from the frontline of golf.
Stark said, “I took some painkillers on the ninth-hole and the headache disappeared. I felt like I could play without any obstacles or excuses.”
Stark almost reached for paracetamol after a three-putt bogey at the 10th hole, but instead of dwelling on this lapse, she used it as a catalyst to her attack. She added, “That bogey really sharpened me.” Five birdies in a row from the 12th hole was a wonderful display of controlled and clinical golf. At one point, she got within shave of Shibuno.
Stark was honest when she replied “Nope” when asked to recall the last time she had such a successful run of birdies.
Just a casual walk-in birdie #LPGAEuroSwing pic.twitter.com/9pG2UdyGm3
LPGA (@LPGA August 4, 2020
Stark, who turned professional in 2021 has six Ladies European Tour victories in her relatively short paid career. If Stark continues to putt and play like she did yesterday, she could win a seventh title. She said that she began putting for six hours per week at the start of the year when she was playing in tournaments. “That was a bit too much, so I tried to balance it. I focus put a lot, trying to match speed with read.
Shibuno was aiming to repeat the Dundonald victory of her fellow countrywoman Ayaka Fuue, who won the event last year. She dropped her only shot on the first but rebounded with five birdies including one crucial on the last, which doubled the advantage she had over Stark.
Celine Boutier, who won her first major title at the Amundi Evian Championship last weekend, increased her title chances. A 68 put her on seven-under for 2022’s Women’s Scottish Open. Linn Grant of Sweden, whose grandfather James won the Scottish Boys’ Championship in 1950, has moved up to four-under with a 69.
Ayrshire’s Louise Duncan, meanwhile, kept the saltire flying in the upper echelons with a sprightly 71 and a total of two under.
West Kilbride’s rookie, at 23, is only just beginning her tour. You can feel like a veteran in this game of rising stars despite your young age.
Duncan, as an amateur, played with Lydia Ko at the Women’s Scottish Open Pro-Am. Ko, who was 20 at the time, had won 14 titles on tour and two major championships.
Duncan reflected, “She was just a few years older than I but I didn’t realize that.” “She was the world’s No. 1, she had won a lot of titles and I did not think that I would turn pro at that time.”
Was there a fear factor involved? Well, not quite. Duncan smiled and said, “I remember driving her out on the fifth-hole so I was very happy about that.” “I played with her again in the final round at the AIG Women’s Open last year, which was held at Muirfield. “A full circle moment.”
Gemma Dryburgh is the Scottish No. The LPGA champion and No. 1 in Scotland, Gemma Dryburgh, eased her way into the weekend after a birdie at her last hole.
