SUN CITY, South Africa -- Paraguay’s Julieta Granada and Celeste Troche stumbled Saturday, but remained in the lead through two rounds at the Women’s World Cup of Golf.
One of just two teams to break par in singles on Friday, Granada and Troche managed only a 3-over 75 in the foursomes format Saturday.
They are at 2-under par 214 -- still four shots ahead of Italy, the same margin they held over Japan following Day 1.
‘It was a very tough day. Pars were a good score out there,’ said Troche. ‘We were burning the edges of the hole with birdie putts for most of the day and I think we just wanted it too much.’
Troche made a 30-foot putt at No. 18 for their second birdie.
‘I think we managed to keep it together really well and that birdie at the last will give us a lot of momentum going into the last day,’ said Granada.
Italians Giulia Sergas and Veronica Zorzi combined for a 1-over 73 and moved into second place at 2-over 218.
Americans Pat Hurst and Juli Inkster were the biggest movers Saturday, sliding into third place at 3-over 219 after posting a 2-under 70 -- the only round under par in foursomes.
Hurst and Inkster had opened poorly with a 5-over 149 in singles and were 10 shots behind Paraguay at the beginning of the second round.
‘We ham-and-egged it pretty well all day,’ Inkster said. ‘We weren’t in much trouble at all and played smart golf.’
South Korea -- second place overnight -- slipped to fourth place following a 5-over 77. Ji Yai Shin and Young Kim are at 4-over 220.
Scotland (221) is fifth, while Australia and Finland (222) share sixth place.
The first two World Cup champions, Japan and Sweden respectively, remained non factors: Japan is 15th following a 78, and Sweden is tied for 19th after an 81.
The 22-team field will finish the tournament Sunday with a better ball format.
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