MILFORD, Connecticut — Filipina Clariss Guce banged in a 70 in the penultimate day of the Hartford Healthcare Women’s Championship Saturday, just four strokes behind joint leaders Jenny Bae and Minji Kang.
The 33-year-old Filipina is lined up for her best finish in a while. With a two-day total of 139 tying her for sixth, Guce is looking to improve from her T32 performance in Island Resort and T28 in Firekeepers.
She birdied Hole Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8 and 12 but blew it in the windup, bogeying three of the last five holes to stay at five-under.
Abby Arevalo had a 71 at 143 tied for 22nd, while Chanelle Avaricio turned in a 72 to stay two shots further back in joint 36th. Samantha Bruce whipped out a 67 to join others at 48th (147), while Pauline del Rosario got cut.
Day 2 of the weather-delayed tourney was a marathon of golf. The athletes had to test their endurance and mental fortitude throughout the day at Great River Golf Club.
Playing in just the second Epson Tour event of her career, Jenny Bae finds herself tied for the lead — after a 66 Saturday — with one round to play. Bae is a University of Georgia Bulldog alum with an impressive amateur resume.
“I was super nervous at my first event,” Bae said.
“It is a new level compared to college golf. I realized that golf is golf, and out here, you are by yourself. You don’t have a team next to you or a coach telling you what to do. I think I had to accept the fact that I’m alone on the course, and I am going to need to make my own decisions.”
Bae would post one of the day’s best rounds in round two. A bogey-free 66 (-6) would move her into the solo lead before the afternoon wave teed off. The rookie will have 18 holes on Sunday to make a statement in only her second career event.
“I went into this week with no expectations. I told myself every hole is a new chance, and at some point, the ball is going to drop. I just stayed patient and had a bit of luck,” Bae said.
“Everything just kind of flowed. My chipping and putting I was really confident in, and I didn’t really overthink anything. It was just a really good day.”
Minji Kang is tied with Bae at the top and matched Bae’s 66 with a 66 of her own. Kang’s round included eight birdies, despite having a few blemishes on the card, bringing her back down to six under for the day. Kang has struggled over the past three events, only making one cut.
The Republic of Korea native found something in her game early in round two and took advantage down the stretch in Milford.
“When I started the tournament yesterday, I was struggling with my irons,” Kang said.
“But today I felt way better, so I tried to play more aggressive, and that seemed to work today. My putter feels good as well, so I was just trying to play my game.”
Ssu-Chia Cheng rounds out the top three heading into the final round. Cheng is the only leader from round one who remains within a shot of the lead. The first-round leader started the day with a bogey, but it would be the only hiccup on her scorecard.
The following 17 holes were bogey-free and included four birdies for a 69 (-3) in round two. Despite only being one shot back, Cheng feels like she did not have her A game in round two and will look to regroup heading into day three.
