Coffs Harbour’s Emma de Groot shares the lead at the halfway point of the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial being played at the Cypress Lake Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida.

de Groot has posted rounds of 68 and 70 to share the lead with California’s Brianna Do in the Symetra Tour event.  Augusta James from Ontairio is one shot back at 5-under 139. There are five players tied for fourth at 4-under-par.

The cut was made at 1-over-par and 55 Symetra Tour professionals will join 30 Legends Tour players on Saturday and Sunday. Players from both Tours will compete for separate $150,000 tournament purses. 

deGroot has one career top 10 finish and will be looking for her first win on the Symetra Tour.  It was revealed that the NSW golfer has been getting some mentoring from fellow Aussie great, Karrie Webb.  When de Groot walked off the course on Thursday after a 4-under 68, she checked her phone and saw a text message from fellow Aussie and LPGA star Karrie Webb. When she was walking towards the media center after a 2-under 70 on Friday, she had another text message from Webb.

“Karrie Webb is great with the younger generation of Australian professionals,” said de Groot. “She is one of the all-time LPGA greats and she is great to have as a mentor to talk to and play with.”

Victorian Su Oh fought back well in the second round, after an opening round of 75, Oh carded a four under-par 68 to be at one-under-par and in a share of 21^st position.  Jayde Panos (73) is a shot further back and tied for 30^th.   NSW Julia Boland is at one-over par after rounds of 72 and 73 and tied for 42^nd position. New Zealand’s Liv Cheng is also tied for 42^nd.

Unfortunately Bree Elliott missed the cut, she finished three-over-par.