By Matt Smith
Ferry Point in New York — the penultimate stop on the Ladies European Tour 2022 Aramco Team Series — whipped up a storm that proved to be a struggle for event the best golfers in the world on Thursday.

Belgium’s Manon De Roey weathered to tough conditions best to card a four-under 68 and open up a two-stroke lead over Nelly Korda and Magdalene Sagstrom.

De Roey is no stranger to success on the ATS, having won in Bangkok earlier this season. Scores are expected to come down over the weekend in better conditions after only four players at Trump Golf Links were able to shoot under par.

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“I’m very pleased with my score today,” said De Roey.

“It was tough out there. We had some rain, strong winds and just tried to keep it together for the team as well – being bogey-free today which is nice. I knew today was going to be tricky but I think for the next few days it’s going to be sunny and 19 degrees, so I’m looking forward to that. It can only get better from today, so I’m looking forward to it.

World No. 4 Nelly Korda, who won on the ATS last time out at Sotogrande, Spain, is a master of windy conditions.

“The weather wasn’t that great so we were all saving each other and thankfully we all had each other’s back,” said Korda of her teammates Noora Homulainen, Celine Herbin and amateur James Rawson. “We played pretty well today. It was pretty windy and then it started kind of raining toward the start of our back nine and it stopped around on the 14th and the wind died”.

Leona Maguire in action at the Aramco Team Series — New York. LET

Team Leona Maguire lead the way in two-day team competition on 11-under-par alongside Liz Young, Tvesa Malik and former NFL star Golden Tate.

Dubai’s Chiara Noja coped well in the tough conditions, with the 16-year-old carding a three-over 75 to stay in touch with the pack in T34.

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