Rookie pro Cassie Porter is the leading Australian at the halfway point in the Women's NSW Open, three shots behind Swedish leader Maya Stark.
Just eight months into her professional career, young Swedish star Maya Stark is eyeing a third Ladies European Tour title at the Women's NSW Open.
Stark, 22, has grabbed a one-shot lead at the halfway mark after shooting a three-under 69 at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads GC on Friday to get to seven under, with Argentina's Magdalaena Simmermacher (67) and Lydia Hall of Wales (67) tied second.
The US college product has been in rich form, claiming her first LET win in Sweden last September to earn tour membership and following it with victory in Spain less than a month later.
Her strong start in the Women's NSW Open comes after she finished one shot behind winner Meghan MacLaren at last week's Australian Women's Classic.
Stark started her round shakily with two bogeys.
"It wasn't a great start. I hit it in the water on one with a hook, which was interesting," said Stark.
"I didn't make up and down and I didn't do it on the hole after that either. It was just a struggle.
"It is always good to be in the lead. I'm happy and I just want to take the good stuff from these two rounds because I made more bogeys than I usually do when I shoot these scores.
"I think I want to just focus on the good stuff with my game. I need to believe in myself and be confident."
Cassie Porter also started with consecutive bogeys but recovered with some hot putting to shoot 68 and be the leading Australian in fifth place at four under, one shot behind England's Alice Hewson (70).
"It wasn't fantastic to start, but I got my stuff together. I started hitting it straight which was nice," said Porter.
"On 11, 12 and 13 I holed three 30-footers in a row. I turned to my mum and asked what was going on."
Fifteen-year-old Sarah Hammett kept herself in the frame with a 73 to be tied 15th at one under with fellow teenage Australian amateur Belinda Ji a shot further back after a 75.
Two-time Women's NSW Open champion MacLaren has her work cut out to make it a hat-trick of titles from nine shots behind Stark after consecutive one-over 73s.
