Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open – Day 2

The field tightens ahead of the cut and final round

The second round of the Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open for the past few years has gone a long way in determining the ultimate champion.

The tournament is played over three 18-hole rounds at Green Valley Ranch Golf Course in Denver. If in four-day tournaments moving day is Saturday, then for the Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open it is Thursday – day two.

The winners in recent years have tended to come from Thursday leaders. The course rewards patience and calm excellence, and typically players who have shown that resolve for the first two days have not wilted during the final round.

So Thursday’s second round saw eagles and long-birdie putts by some of its top finishers. The leaderboard is crammed with Epson Tour and LPGA event veterans who are going to play Friday for the $50,000 first place check.

Alyaa Abdulghany of Newport Beach, Calif., playing in her second Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open, said the clear morning skies Thursday helped her to her 8-under round for the day, putting her in the top three.

“It wasn’t raining sideways and (the wind) wasn’t going 20 miles an hour,” the 26-year-old pro said.

Abdulghany said the key to winning Friday will be managing the course.

“They might roll the greens tomorrow, so we got to make sure that we’re getting good numbers out there and considering the bounce on the greens,” she said.

Thursday’s clear weather brought out excellent play.

Jessica Porvasnik, an Ohioan who is playing most of this season on the LPGA Tour, canned an approach shot from 75-yards on the par five No. 9 hole, hitting directly into the cup. The ball came in with so much speed that if it hadn’t landed in it cup it might still be rolling. Porvasnik tied for 11th at 4-under.

Two-time winner Becca Huffer sank several long birdie putts and finished at 9-under par in second place.

Second-day leader Yixian Guo of China birdied five holes on the back nine en route to a 66 and a tournament-leading 10-under par.

There is a cut before Friday’s final round, with the top 40 percent of pros and amateurs moving ahead to play Friday. Play begins at 7 a.m. and barring weather days will conclude by 3 p.m.