Reto, Lewis shoot 61, up 1 in LPGA team event

MIDLAND, Mich. — Paula Reto and Amelia Lewis shot a 9-under 61 in better-ball play Thursday at wet Midland Nation Membership to take the second-round lead within the Dow Nice Lakes Bay Invitational, the LPGA Tour’s lone group occasion.

“We look ahead to this occasion all 12 months,” Lewis stated. “We plan it in January, which outfits we’ll put on. We’re simply wanting ahead to tomorrow and simply this entire week.”

Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Emma Talley had been a stroke again with first-round leaders Matilda Castren and Kelly Tan. Shadoff and Talley shot 60, and Castren and Tan had a 63.

”We appeared to have birdies on reverse holes, so that actually helps,” Shadoff stated. “Once we weren’t having such good holes, we had been there for one another with pars or birdies. So it was an actual group effort.”

Reto, from South Africa, and Lewis, from the US, waited out a 2 1/2-hour delay within the afternoon. That they had a 14-under 126 whole after opening with a 65 on Wednesday in alternate-shot play.

“We had a sluggish begin with the rain delay, however then after we bought again on the market we gave ourselves a bit pep speaking and simply stated, ‘One shot at a time. Let’s give ourselves good alternatives,'” Lewis stated. “We made quite a lot of birdies.”

Reto holed her second shot for eagle on the par-4 fifth after the delay.

“The wind was serving to, so I hit one membership much less, and I hit it actually robust, good,” Reto stated. “‘OK, it may be shut.’ Then, bang, one hop after which within the gap.”

Celine Boutier and Yuka Saso had been fourth at 12 below after a 63. Celine Borge and Polly Mack had a 64 to get to 11 below.

Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson missed the minimize by a stroke, following a gap 73 with a 65. Thompson has gone 4 years since her final victory.

The groups will play alternate shot Friday and better-ball Saturday, with lots of the gamers then travelling to France for the Evian Championship subsequent week.