Mother Nature and Royal Birkdale have conspired against the field in Round 2 of the Women’s British Open (see Lexi Thompson as an example). But Beatriz Recari was impervious to their plan.
Recari shot 5-under 67 Friday to grab the clubhouse lead at 3 under. It marked the low round of the tournament, one shot better than Japan’s Ayako Uehara, who led the first round after a 4-under 68. It was also her best score in a major championship. (Editor’s note: Mo Martin finished at 6 under to lead after 36 holes. Sun-Ju Ahn also matched Recari’s 67 to reach 3 under)
“I feel great, very pleased, especially that I was able to put my round together on a links course,” Recari told LPGA media after her round. “I was just very accurate off the tee, which was key for me. I was feeling really confident I was going to be in the fairway, and I was going to be able to be aggressive. I got some really good looks with my putter.”
Photos: Round 2 of the Women’s British Open
Women’s British Open full leaderboard
Recari had six birdies and one bogey on Day 2, closing with three consecutive birdies on holes 16-18. The 27-year-old Spaniard won twice on the LPGA in 2013, but has struggled to follow up that break-out campaign. She entered this week’s event with four made cuts in 12 starts.
Her best finish this year came in a T-28 at the Australian Open. That was also the last time she shot in the 60s in an LPGA event, doing to in the second round – a span of five months and 30 rounds without a sub-70 score.
“I’ve been working on getting back on track,” Recari said. “This hasn’t been the easiest start for me.”
Recari’s career-best finish in a major is T-9 at last year’s Evian Masters.