Golf: Brooky in contention in Europe

Ladies European Tour (LET) veteran Lynette Brooky remains firmly on the pace after two rounds of golf's Deloitte Ladies Open at Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The New Zealander, a long-time LET regular, mixed five birdies with a double bogey at the Golfclub Broekpolder layout overnight (NZT) to sign for a second round three-under par 69, following her opening round 71.

In carding the joint low round of the day, Brooky has moved to four-under 140 for the tournament and outright second, now just two shots off the pace set by Englishwoman Holly Aitchison, who fired a one-under 71 to be six-under par.

Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal is third, two shots back from Brooky after a 69 left her at two-under heading into the final round.

The news is also good for rookie New Zealand professional Caroline Bon, who followed her first round 77 with a two-over 74 to make the cut by a stroke.

Bon, who missed out on earning her full card for the 2011 LET season after finishing 55th at the final stage of qualifying school in Spain in December but has already played in four tournaments this season and was handed a wildcard for this event thanks to her Dutch heritage, had three birdies and five bogeys to share 55th.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's Danny Lee has dropped eight places to 31st after the third round of the European Tour's Wales Open at Celtic Manor near Newport.

Lee shot a three-over 74 today to be two-over for the tournament, 10 shots behind the leader, Swede Alex Noren. Lee's compatriot, Mark Brown, carded a two-over 73 to share 38th spot at four-over par after three rounds.

- NZPA