Luna eclipses the field in Norway

8/23/2008

Italy’s Diana Luna shot rounds of 66 and 68 to take a one shot lead into the final round of the SAS Ladies Masters in Norway.

The 25-year-old from Rome finished the second day at Haga Golf in Oslo on a ten-under-par 134 two-round total, one ahead of France’s Gwladys Nocera. Spain’s Beatriz Recari and Denmark’s Iben Tinning were two shots further back in a share of third.

Luna shared the first round lead with the home favourite Marianne Skarpnord but the Norwegian slipped back into a share of 19th position on three-under after a 75, before Luna started from the 10th tee in the afternoon sunshine on Saturday.

Luna aims to crown her seventh year on tour with a second LET title, while Nocera is aiming for her eighth LET victory. Already a winner in Scotland and the Netherlands this year, Nocera, ranked second on the New Star Money List, is looking to make up ground on its leader Helen Alfredsson by claiming the winner’s cheque for €30,000.

Recari shot a seven-under-par 65 which tied her career low round on the LET. She also carded a 65 at the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open in Hungary two years ago in her rookie season. She is aiming for her first tour title, while Tinning is targeting her sixth and her first since 2005.

England’s Samantha Head finished in a share of fifth on six-under-par with South African Lee-Anne Pace and French rookie Caroline Afonso. Five players shared eighth on five-under including England’s Kirsty S Taylor, who shot a career low round of 65.

Leaderboard – Round 2:

1. Diana Luna                      ITA  66 68 134 -10
2. Gwladys Nocera                 FRA  69 66 135 - 9
3. Iben Tinning                    DEN  69 68 137 - 7
    Beatriz Recari                   ESP  72 65 137 - 7
5. Samantha Head                ENG  70 68 138 - 6
    Lee-Anne Pace                  SAF  71 67 138 - 6
    Caroline Afonso                FRA  70 68 138 - 6
8. Kirsty S. Taylor                  ENG  74 65 139 - 5
    Nina Reis                         SWE  68 71 139 - 5
    Martina Eberl                    GER  72 67 139 - 5
    Becky Brewerton               WAL  72 67 139 - 5
    Tania Elosegui                  ESP  70 69 139 - 5

Zuzana Kamasová                SVK  80 74 154 +10

Source: Ladies European Tour