The innovative and inclusive ISPS Handa World Invitational Men | Women, Presented by Modest! Golf Management is now into its weekend after the field was slashed to the top 60 and ties on both sides on Friday night.
Here, we take a look at what to expect from day three…
Need to know
The local crowds will be very pleased should the Women’s leaderboard look similar at the end of the day to what it does at the start. Local favourite Steph Meadow, playing in her first professional event on home soil, was joined by big crowds on day two as she took a share of the lead with Manon De Roey. If she can retain her place at the top on Saturday evening, we can expect large crowds for the final day.
Calum Hill could well be the most in-form golfer on the planet right now. The Scot has two victories in his last three events and now sits just one shot off the lead in Northern Ireland. Galgorm Castle was the venue for his maiden European Challenge Tour victory in 2018 and with opening rounds of 66-68 this week, he’s in a good position to make a charge over the weekend.
Despite the cut-making professionals being guaranteed money by shooting low enough to play the weekend, the hard work doesn’t stop there. There will be another cut tonight – in both the men’s and women’s tournaments – to the top 35 and ties, who will then go on to compete in the final day tomorrow.
Crunching the numbers
66 – Male professionals made the second round cut on Friday. They were joined by five amateurs including 16-year-old Josh Hill, a Galgorm Castle Golf Club member who shot a bogey-free three under par 67 on day two.
61 – The number of female professionals who survived the cut and progressed to the weekend.
8 – The 61 female professionals will be joined by eight amateurs, one of whom is making a real name for herself. Lauren Walsh, 18, goes into the round three in tied third just one shot off the top. With her sister on the bag, Walsh birdied the final hole to add a one under par 72 to her opening 70 on day one.
35 – The number of players who will make the cut after round three and play in the final round. The field will be whittled down to the top 35, and ties, in both tournaments.
2 – The number of back nine birdies Cormac Sharvin made on day two to ensure he would make the cut in his home event and bounce back from a three over par front nine.
