Abby Arevalo
The Philippines’ Abby Arevalo signed for two back nine bogeys in a birdie-less second round on Wednesday and now lays 10 strokes off the Women’s All Pro Tour’s (WAPT) Houma Golf Classic pace being held by China’s Simin Feng at windswept Ellendale Country Club.
After an opening 71, the 21-year-old former Philippine Team mainstay carded a 74 for 145, even as first round leader Kaitlin Milligan of the United States ballooned to a 77 to be eight behind as consistent rain and biting cold slowed down the 86-strong field.
Feng was flawless in carding a 66, as Americans Brittany Fen and Kathleen Scavo returned 68s to be two shots off the lead in the $46,000 event that offers $10,000 to the champion.
“Anything can still happen in the last two rounds,” said Arevalo, who got bailed out by her short game in salvaging a 36-38 over a super narrow layout.
“I just hope to have a lot more putts drop [in the third round],” she said.
The tournament is the first leg of the WAPT season, where the top five finishers after 13 legs get outright slots to Stage II of the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s qualifying series.
Second round conditions were more brutal than the first, as Olivia Benzin, also of the United States, also struggled.
She fired a 74 after opening with a 67 to be six strokes off the lead.