Nelson leads at Frilford Heath as trio share Women's Senior Amateur advantage
The R&A
08 Jul 26
4 mins
Danny Nelson of the United States holds a two-stroke lead ahead of the final 36 holes of The R&A Senior Amateur Championship at Frilford Heath, as he aims to go one better than his runner-up finish at Walton Heath last year.
In the Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, a three-way tie has emerged at the summit. England’s Kerry Smith and Emma Brown share the lead with 2019 champion Lara Tennant of the United States on a two-over-par total of 148.The 64-year-old Nelson followed his opening 67 on the Blue Course with a one-under-par 71 on the Red Course to post a six-under-par total of 138. England’s John Kemp and overnight co-leader Richard Heath of Australia sit in a tie for second place on four under par.“I got off to a good start,” said Nelson, a native of Savannah, Georgia. “I hit it to two feet on the first, hit it close on the second and was two under quickly. But I wasn’t quite on the button as I was yesterday, then on the back nine I couldn’t get a whole lot going.”Warm weather in Southern England has left the fairways at Frilford Heath firm and fast, testing the 239 competitors representing 22 countries. Conditions remained challenging during the second round, with little wind and temperatures reaching 31℃.“I’m used to playing in the heat,” Nelson added. “But the difference over here is you have to do a lot of math, a lot of factoring because the ground is so hard. For instance, I hit a pitching wedge from 168 yards today. But it’s fun because we don’t play this way back home. I’m obviously happy with my position. Hopefully today was my bad nine and I can keep in front.”
Kemp surges into contention
Heath remains well-placed despite a frustrating finish on the Red Course, where a missed par putt at the last resulted in a one-over-par 73.“I yipped that putt,” the 55-year-old Australian noted. “I’m cross with myself because I set out today to shoot level par.”Kemp forced his way into the reckoning by carding the lowest score of the championship so far - a bogey-free, seven-under-par 65 on the Red Course. The 58-year-old Englishman, who finished runner-up at Woodhall Spa three years ago, advanced up the leaderboard courtesy of five birdies and an eagle at the par-five sixth.“I got a wee bit petulant yesterday after making a couple of silly mistakes and that cost me,” said Kemp, a member at Woburn Golf Club. “I was much more focused today. I didn’t feel as if I was going to drop any shots.”
Trio locked at the top
In the Women's Senior Amateur Championship, Smith recorded a three-under-par 71 on the Red Course to move into a share of the lead. Her round featured just a single dropped shot, alongside two birdies and an eagle at the par-five sixth.“I was quite tidy today,” Smith said. “I holed some putts today whereas I didn’t hole many yesterday on the Blue Course. My game’s in good shape but I never have expectations, so we’ll see what happens over the next two days.”Brown matched the low round of the day on the Blue Course with a two-under-par 70, a feat equalled by 2024 champion Nadene Gole of Australia.The former Curtis Cup player and 1994 Women’s Amateur champion has a remarkably consistent record in this event, having finished runner-up in 2023 and third in both 2022 and 2024.“I just tried to stay cool today in the heat,” Brown said. “My golf was steady, nothing spectacular. I have a silver and two bronzes in this tournament. It would be lovely to win this but I’m under no illusions because there are a lot of good golfers here.”Tennant joined the English pair at two over par after carding a second consecutive 74, this time on the Red Course.“I made a few putts today and just tried to manage the course as well as I could, just keep patient,” Tennant said.Elsewhere, England’s Ian Barker enjoyed a memorable moment on the Blue Course, recording his eighth career hole-in-one at the 167-yard, par-three third hole enroute to a level-par 72. However, an opening 82 meant the 63-year-old missed the halfway cut.View the leaderboards in full after round two:
