WORLEY, Idaho — Filipinas Clariss Guce and Pauline del Rosario both made a daring assault in the second round to go just three shots behind the leader entering Sunday’s final day of the Circling Raven Golf Championship.
Guce fired a 69, while Del Rosario sizzled with a 67 to end up tied for fourth in trying to chase Thai Chanettee Wannasaen who remained on top with a 68 for a nine-under-par 135.
The 33-year-old Guce birdied five of her opening 9 holes, while bogeying Nos. 4 and 18. She had a 69 on the opening round.
But the hottest streak came from the 24-year-old Del Rosario who was only on her sophomore year on the Epson Tour.
She decorated her round with an eagle on the 3rd to go with birdies on 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 14. The reigning Caliraya Springs champ bogeyed the second, 13th and 18th.
After 36 holes Wannasaen is holding on to a one-shot lead heading into the final round. Wannasaen signed for a second-round, 4-under 68, and sits at 9-under for the tournament.
The 19-year-old carded six birdies, the same as her first round, and a lone double bogey on Saturday. Sunday will be the first time the LPGA and Epson Tour rookie finds herself in the final group.
Paired with Wannasaen, and one shot back at 8-under, is Minji Kang who also signed for a 4-under 68 on Day 2.
“I was trying to play aggressive, even though it was a bit windy on the front nine,” said Kang. “I had a good feeling with my irons, and I made some short putts. I had a good round today.”
Also in the mix, sitting in solo third, is Thailand’s Keera Foocharoen. The 23-year-old had one of the lower scores of the day, firing a 5-under, 67. She will tee it up on Sunday just two shots behind her fellow countrywoman, Wannasaen.
“It’s good that I get to wake up late,” laughed Foocharoen. “I’m glad that I get to play in the second to last group, but I’ll focus shot by shot, talk about something with my mom during the round, and try to smile a lot. That’ll help me play better.”
