MIDLAND, Mich. — Paula Retto and Amelia Lewis shot a 9-under 61 in a game of best ball Thursday at the rainy Midland Country Club to lead the second round at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the only team event on the LPGA Tour.
“We look forward to this event all year long,” Lewis said. “We plan it in January, which clothes we’re going to wear. We’re just looking forward to tomorrow and this whole week.”
Judy Ewart-Shadoff and Emma Talley impressed with first-round leaders Matilda Kasterin and Kelly Tan. Shadoff and Talley shot a 60, and Castrin and Tan had a shot of a 63.
“It looks like we have birds in opposite holes, and that really helps,” Shadoff said. “When we didn’t have such good holes, we were there for each other with pars or birdies. So it was a real team effort.”
Rito, from South Africa, and Louis, from the United States, waited two and a half hours late in the afternoon. They had 14-under 126 in all after opening with 65 on Wednesday in rotation play.
“It was a slow start with the rain delay, but then when we got back out there we gave ourselves a little pep talk and just said, ‘One shot at a time,'” Lewis said. Let’s give ourselves good chances.” “We made a lot of birdies.”
Rito slots in with her second shot for an eagle on the 5 par 4 after the delay.
“The wind was helping, so I hit one club less, and I hit it really hard and nice,” Retto said. “Okay, it will be soon.” Then knock, one hop and then into the hole.”
Celine Pottier and Yuka Sasso were fourth at 12-under 63. Celine Borg and Polly Mack had 64 to go 11-under.
Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson missed the cut by a stroke, after opening 73 with a 65. It’s been four years since her last win.
Teams will play two exchanges of shots on Friday and best ball on Saturday, with many players traveling to France for next week’s Evian tournament.