We have no record of her buying a tractor or being passionate about hunting, but we find certain parallels between the two. Ally Ewing (-10), formerly McDonald, could well change her surname again in this AIG Women’s Open and take on Harman. The 30-year-old American born in Tupelo (Mississippi) is emulating the diminutive Brian, a golfer from Savannah (Georgia) who gave a display of play in the first two rounds of the Open and took the victory by five strokes.
Ally ‘Harman’ Ewing McDonald is on her way to her first Major, although 36 holes in a British are like two alpine stages with several special category ports. Until the tail, everything is bull, but she has certainly laid the foundations to consolidate herself as the main favourite at Walton Heath. With three victories in the LPGA, her best results in the Majors were two top tens: sixth in the Chevron and tenth in the US Open, both in 2019. She is facing the opportunity of her life and does not want to miss the train. Carlota Ciganda bet that whoever reached double digits would take the cat to the water. Well, Ewing is already in this territory thanks to a perfect round with seven birdies and a single bogey to close her round, needless to say, it was the best of the day pending what happens in the afternoon shift.
Two Major champions this year, Lilia Vu (-4), winner of the Chevron, and Allisen Corpuz (-3), winner of the US Open, have so far positioned themselves among the candidates for second place, just behind their compatriot Andrea Lee (-5), unless Ewing slows down and opens the tournament doors wide open for the rest. Lee and Vu pocketed a great -4 partial, improved by the Thai Atthaya Thitikul (-3), who made five less to secure the weekend without problems and get closer to the leading positions. Also with -4 is the seventh in the world, the South Korean Hyo-Joo Kim after duplicating her Thursday card with two less.
Rose Zhang (-1) also confirmed her presence in the last two rounds at Walton Heath thanks to three birdies in the last seven holes and Celine Boutier (+1) made the cut by sinking a putt for birdie on the 18th, although it remains to be seen if the cut does not rise to +2 depending on how the wind blows. The Frenchwoman, who is feeling the fatigue after her two consecutive victories in Evian and Scotland, showed courage and determination to continue on stage with the 65 best and tied. In suspense are the winner of the AIG Women’s Open in 2018, Georgia Hall (+2), and the Swedes Caroline Hedwall (+2) and Maja Stark (+2). Going home is the defending champion, Ashleigh Buhai (+3), who fought with birdies on the 14th and 16th, but the bogey on the 17th was definitive. Three other Major winners ended their competition: Brooke Henderson (+3), Jennifer Kupcho (+4) and Lexi Thompson (+7).
