Australian Whitney Hillier is continuing her excellent year on the Ladies European Tour, holding the halfway lead at the Big Green Egg Open in the Netherlands.
Australian Whitney Hillier holds the lead at halfway in her latest bid to land her maiden individual title on the Ladies European Tour, holding a one-shot advantage at the Big Green Egg Open in the Netherlands.
The 31-year-old West Australian has enjoyed a fine year on the tour, earning her first LET title in a team event in Bangkok and also reaching the play-off of the Jabra Open at Evian Resort Golf Club a week later.
At Rosendaelsche Golf Course near Arnhem on Friday, Hillier recorded a second successive round of four-under par 68, to lead on eight under at halfway, one clear of Austrian Sarah Schober.
Geraldton's Hillier, whose only professional individual title came at the Brisbane Invitational three years ago, birdied each of her final three holes to hold the slim advantage with 36 holes left to play.
"I had a pretty good day today, I was patient more than anything, I had a couple of testing putts and a couple bogeys in between, but to finish off with three birdies was a good strong finish," said Hillier.
"This course is tight in some places so you have to be patient and pick small targets, so that's what I'm trying to do."
Hillier birdied the third and fourth holes on Friday to set the tone for her round, and a dropped shot at the fifth was swiftly erased by birdie on eight.
After another dropped shot on 14, her strong finish put her in pole position, with the chance of earning more valuable points in her bid to top the tour's order of merit, in which she currently lies ninth.
"I'm happy and I'm rolling with it, I've been working hard and that seems to be coming off now," she said of her improved form.
"There's plenty more golf to go, I won't be changing anything heading into the weekend."
Hillier was set to have a three-shot lead at the halfway point, but Schober arrowed in an eagle on the eighth - her penultimate hole - to maintain the pressure at the top.
The Indian duo of Vani Kapoor and Diksha Dagar are tied for third on five under.
