Becky Brewerton from Wales

(Evian-les-Bains, France – Friday 24th July 2009) – Welsh golfer Becky Brewerton, who won the Open de Espana on Sunday, continued to share the lead after Friday’s second round at the Evian Masters.

The 26-year-old carded four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to tie with South Korean Na Yeon Choi and Japan’s Ai Miyazato.

Brewerton and Choi both shot four-under 68s to share the lead for a second day on nine-under. They were joined by Miyazato, who shot a 66, with overnight co-leader South Korean In-Kyung Kim a shot further back on eight-under-par.

Brewerton carried on from where she left off on Thursday with three birdies and an eagle in her first seven holes. She was three strokes clear of the field at the turn and picked up another shot at the par-four 11th hole, reaching 11-under-par, but bogeyed the 16th and 17th.

“I felt really good on the range this morning, and it was exactly the same thing,” said Brewerton, who has won twice in six years on the Ladies European Tour. “My short game was excellent. Everything was great. I holed a couple of really nice putts again, chipped in (at the fifth hole), and just felt very good in all parts of my game.”

“Obviously there’s a touch of disappointment because I got to 11 under. Again, like I said yesterday, this is a really tough course to not have any bogeys. It would have been quite an achievement not to. Disappointed I did at the end, but I would have taken 68 at the start of the day.”

Choi was defeated by Helen Alfredsson last year at Evian in a three-hole, sudden death play-off. The second year LPGA Tour player enjoys the Evian Masters Golf Club because it reminds her of courses in Korea and she is aiming for her first victory this week.

“I was just saying like yesterday, really comfortable on the course,” said Choi, who had six birdies and two bogeys. “Putter was really good today. I think I have confidence I think this course, and I feel really confident. Yeah, I think I can do it.”

Miyazato, a fourth year LPGA pro, carded seven birdies and one bogey. She is also yet to win on the tour but said: “I feel great. I mean, this is my sixth time at Evian, so I have been playing here for years. I’m very happy with that.”

World No.1 Lorena Ochoa added a 69 to her opening 75 and finished tied for 42nd on par, nine shots behind the leaders, while American teenager Michelle Wie carded a 70 and was one shot better.

Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson shot 66 and finished at seven-under alongside Japan’s Yuko Mitsuka, South Korean Song-Hee Kim, Frenchwoman Karine Icher and American Paula Creamer.

A total of 74 players made the cut at three-over-par.