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Aditi Ashok took the lead at the 2023 Aramco Saudi Ladies International after the second round. She is two strokes ahead of Lydia Ko, who topped the leaderboard after the first round.
Ashok has already established herself in the new season after winning the Kenya Ladies Open and finishing third in Morocco the following week. She is now all set to extend her lead and clinch the second tournament of the year at the Saudi Ladies Open.
“I think it was just whenever I stepped to the ball, I just knew the ball was going in,” said Aditi Ashok. “Just one of those days where everything works in your favor.”
Aditi Ashok added:
"Just went to the gym a lot. I guess after last year, I traveled so much I lost some weight, so I was trying to gain that weight back. I’m nowhere near what I want to be. It’s a work in progress.”
“I’m just going to try"- Aditi Ashok opens about her game
The Indian golfer started the second round with a bogey and then went on to make six birdies and one eagle to finish at under 13. Speaking about her performance, Aditi Ashok said:
“I’m just going to try and focus on doing the same stuff I’ve done. I’ve played the par fives pretty good. The rest of the time I’ve just hit fairways and greens, got myself the birdie putts. Sometimes I hit a good putt and it goes in, but it’s important to have the birdie putts all day.”
The second position is shared by Lydia Ko and Vu Lilia. Vu finished with a scoring deficit of 11 and has credited wind for her performance. She said:
"I think the wind helped because it helps you play one shot at a time. I think today the wind is a little different from yesterday so we had to adjust to that, but just playing one shot at a time.”
Valenzuela Albane also impressed fans with her amazing performance at the Armaco Saudi Ladies Open with a scoring deficit of 10, she has a solo lead at number four. Speaking about her game, the Swiss golfer said:
"It’s been really fun. My game was solid and today was definitely challenging in the back nine with the wind, but I just stayed very present. I’m just having a lot of fun — grinded out there. I think I just enjoyed a little bit lowering my expectations and just trying my best in the conditions," said Albane.
She went on to say:
“I think I’ve been pretty solid tee to green, but my iron play has been very solid for quite a few months now, and I feel like it’s definitely paying off, the work in the off-season. Last week, I found a little something in my putting that makes the roll a little bit better, switching grips. I think that was a fun part of playing alongside the Tournament of Champions — I got pointers from Corey Pavin, and his tip helped me."
Saudi Ladies will conclude with the finale on February 19, 2023.
