Dubai: Sophie Walker and Krystle Caithness celebrated the UAE National Day by producing a new course record to move atop the leaderboard on the second day of the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Ladies Pro Am, presented by golf in DUBAi, at Emirates Golf Club's Faldo course yesterday.
Both shot an identical six-under-par 67 to go 10-under-par for the tournament at 136, one stroke ahead of overnight leader Becky Brewerton, who carded a level par 73 after opening with a bogey-free 68 on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Welshwoman is well on course to winning the prestigious 2009 BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year Award to be announced on Saturday.
Blistering start
The day simply belonged to the English-Scottish duo. Caithness made a blistering start to her round, firing in six birdies without dropping a shot on the front nine. She bogeyed the par-3, 13th and the par-4, 15th, but ended the round with a flourish, picking up a birdie on the closing hole.
Walker was a picture of consistency, equally splitting her six birdies in each half. "I think I played pretty solid golf today and created many birdie opportunities. I could have done even better, but I will take a 67 any day.
"The key to this round — which is my best of the season — was my iron play. I was hitting my approaches close to the pin and putted well. The course is great; you don't need to hit a driver off the tee all the time," said Walker.
Scotland's Caithness attributed her round to her birdie streak on the front nine. "I went six under after nine holes and, at one stage, I was seven under, but then dropped two shots.
Feeling on top
"It was nice to finish off with a birdie. Overall, I am pleased with my day's efforts and thoroughly enjoyed the company of my playing partner [Ishu Rupani]. When you are striking the ball and putting well, you always feel on top of your game. That was the case today."
