Just eight months into her professional career, young Swedish star Maya Stark is eyeing a third Ladies European Tour title at the Women's NSW Open.
Stark, 22, has grabbed a one-shot lead at the halfway mark after shooting a three-under 69 at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads GC on Friday to get to seven under, with Argentina's Magdalaena Simmermacher (67) and Lydia Hall of Wales (67) tied second.
The US college product has been in rich form, claiming her first LET win in Sweden last September to earn tour membership and following it with victory in Spain less than a month later.
Her strong start in the Women's NSW Open comes after she finished one shot behind winner Meghan MacLaren at last week's Australian Women's Classic.
Cassie Porter shot a 68 to be the leading Australian in fifth place at four under, one shot behind England's Alice Hewson (70).
Fifteen-year-old Sarah Hammett kept herself in the frame with a 73 to be tied 15th at one under with fellow teenage Australian amateur Belinda Ji a shot further back after a 75.
Two-time Women's NSW Open champion MacLaren has her work cut out to make it a hat-trick of titles from nine shots behind Stark after consecutive one-over 73s.
