Momentum is everything in golf and Agathe Sauzon will be carrying plenty into the final two rounds of the Women's NSW Open after taking the tournament lead on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sauzon shot three consecutive birdies midway through the back nine on Friday and while she did hit a late bogey she still finished the second round at -7 following an opening day 70.
At the time she finished Sauzon held a one-shot lead over Michele Thomas, who followed -5 effort on day one with a one under par showing on Friday.
"It was really good and I was really pleased," Sauzon said of her second round.
"There was a few birdies and more bogies but I'm pleased with how I played and how I kept momentum."
Momentum and confidence is what it's all about for Sauzon at the moment.
The Frenchwoman only returned to playing tournaments at last week's Australian Ladies Classic after taking time away from competition to focus on technique and training.
Plenty of work was done on her swing and the benefits were clear to see on Friday as she, mostly, got through the tight fairways at Dubbo Golf Club unscathed.
Sauzon hit three birdies on the front nine before she finished with four more birdies and two bogeys.
Sauzon's three consecutive birdies came on the 13th-15th holes on Friday.
READ ALSO:
That put her two shots clear at the top but a bogey on the par four 16th meant she had to settle for a round of 67.
"It was a bit tough at the beginning and I made good putts to save par and made putts when I had birdie chances," she said.
"I know I'm playing well. I played good last week but made mistakes so I'm confident and I just try to work on my routine and my processes and what I worked on during winter.
"For two-and-a-half months I didn't play a tournament and I worked on my technique and my swing. Last week it was quite hard to switch into game mode and get into the routine so I'm working to do it this week."
Being happy with herself and her game is also a key factor and Sauzon said she enjoyed herself on what she described as a "great" Dubbo course on Friday.
"The greens are really good and they roll great, they're fast and the bunkers are great," she said.
"It's a great course and it's challenging."
Michele Thomson and Gemma Dryburgh, the Scottish pair who were the overnight leaders heading into the second round, remain firmly in the hunt.
Thomson was second on Friday afternoon while Dryburgh was two shots back at -4 and in a share of third.
The cut line was at +4 at the time of publication.
Teen star Steph Kyriacou, who scored a stunning win in last week's Australian Ladies Classic, sat at +5 over through the first six holes of her second round.
Two-time defending champion Meghan MacLaren was at +3 at the same point.
Do you want more sport from the Dubbo region? Sign up to our newsletters here:
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
