Marissa Steen produced a round of 72 (-1) to put herself in pole position at the top of the ladies leaderboard at the ISPS Handa World Invitational in Northern Ireland.
The American leads the way in the event co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA and the men’s DP World Tour.
Dan Brown produced another brilliant round to blitz the field and storm into a six-shot lead in the men’s tournament at Galgorm and Castlerock courses.
American Steen began the day on two-under, which she carded at Galgorm, and headed to the links of Castlerock.
Being in the first group out, Steen got the best of the conditions on what turned out to be a very gusty and damp day.
The 33-year-old made two bogeys and three birdies for her round of 72 and moved to the top of the leaderboard with a total of three-under.
“I told my caddie before we started just to stay patient today with how windy it was going to be,” said Steen. “This course is so exposed being so close to the water, so it was really all I was trying to do was stay patient. That was really my only thought.
“Galgorm is a lot of a different challenge than this course with it being parkland, and the wind out there is harder to judge because, with more trees, it just swirls more. Out here where it’s so exposed it was just more trusting that I had the right club and I had accounted for the wind properly.
“I feel like I’ve put some good weeks together so far this season. My game feels really close. I was bummed to not make the AIG last week, but I had some good time to just work on my golf game.
“It feels good to see that paying off this week as well. I feel like my game has been pretty solid. Maybe not putting it all together at exactly the right time, but things feel good.”
Germany’s Esther Henseleit sits in second after shooting a round of 71 at Castlerock.
Four players are in a share of third place with England’s Gabriella Cowley, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Switzerland’s Kim Metraux and American Ryann O’Toole all on one-under-par.
Cowley, who was one of the co-leaders overnight, had a tough day at Galgorm carding a round of 75 but remains just two shots off the lead.
“Conditions were really tough this morning especially early on with it being cold as well as windy and to have the rain, but I knew it was going to be a battle and I just had to grind a score out,” said the Englishwoman.
Dan Brown. DPWT
Meanwhile, Brown, who was one of the afternoon starters at Galgorm, surged ahead of the distant chasing pack following his superb four under par 66.
A roller-coaster front nine contained four birdies and three bogeys before he powered ahead with three more gains to sit six clear of Spaniard Angel Hidalgo and Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick at the halfway point in Northern Ireland.
“I’ve just been taking it one shot at a time. I know it’s cliché, but obviously it’s been so tricky at times, with the wind and rain today as well,” Brown said.
“I suppose you just work out the shots as best you can and then try and execute it. Thankfully, I have done it a few times over the last couple of days.
“I think the last two events, Denmark and then the Barbasol in America, had two good finishes there and I felt like I’ve done enough to keep my card for next year. It feels as though the shackles are off a little bit.
“Obviously it’s my first year out here, so I’ve been trying to put that to the back of my mind, and obviously do as well as you can each week, but I feel like I’m just going out and enjoying it a bit more now, a little bit more carefree, I suppose.”
