Rianne Malixi dominated the last two par-5s to salvage a one-under 71 but fell five strokes off Hong Kong’s Virginie Ding at the start of the Women’s Orlando International Amateur at the Orange Country National Golf Center and Lodge in Florida Wednesday.
Malixi cracked a frontside par-game marred by missed birdie opportunities with three birdies in the last nine holes, including the long holes on Nos. 14 and 17, as she bucked a two-bogey mishap to post a 36-35 round at Crooked Cat, one of the two courses hosting the 54-hole championship which drew a huge field of 180 bidders.
The top 70 and ties after 36 holes will advance to the final round.
Malixi, 15, kept flashing fine form off the mound and with her iron play but continued to struggle on the greens that has stymied her previous title bids. Her first putt from 20 feet lipped out and she missed her chances inside 9 feet miss on the next two holes.
She did drain a long putt to save par on the par-3 No. 8 then buriued a seven-footer for birdie on No. 10 to launch her backside drive. But after two regulation pars, the top ICTSI-backed campaigner missed the par-3 No. 13 green, chipped short and muffed a par-putt bid from close range.
She recovered the stroke on the par-5 14th but missed another seven-footer for birdie on No. 15 and blew a four-footer for par on the next. She, however, birdied the last long hole, No. 17, to save a 71.
But Malixi stood too far behind Ding at 20th place as the latter, billed as the next Hong Kong superstar, sizzled with seven birdies against a bogey for a 66 and a one-stroke lead over Americans Alice Hodge and Ami Gianchandani, who matched 67s.
Five players posted similar 68s and five more matched 69s to guarantee a tight, fierce chase for the championship, the second of three Florida events lined up for Malixi, who placed second in last week’s Citrus Golf Trail in Sebring.
She will next vie in the Annika Invitational on Jan. 15-17 at the Eagle Creek Golf Club.