HARBOR SPRINGS — Sarah White of Grand Rapids, BOYNE Golf’s brand ambassador on the LPGA Epson Tour, lamented a putter that stayed as cool as the Northern Michigan weather of the last few days.
“I lipped out so many putts, so many,” she said. “It is what it is — golf. It’s evil. Golf will chew you up and eat you alive.”
A three-putt bogey on No. 18 put White at 3-over 75 for the second round Saturday on The Heather course, and just one shot outside the 2-over 146 cut line in the inaugural Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands presented by Johnnie Walker Saturday.
It was just her second missed cut in eight Epson tournaments this season.
Meanwhile, Laney Frye, a tour rookie from Nicholasville, Ky., led for the second consecutive round. She followed her 6-under 66 first round with a 70 for 136.
Isi Gabsa of Germany shot 68 to move one shot behind at 137, and Riley Smyth of Tequesta, Fla., who shot 66, and Julia Gregg of Farmers Branch, Texas, who shot 68, were next at 138.
Among the six golfers tied for fifth at 139 was former Michigan State University star Valery Plata of Colombia. She shot 71 in the second round.
White greatly wanted to be a part of the final round, but said she is always happy to be back in Michigan and to play golf at the BOYNE Golf courses. She is headed to the Upper Peninsula next to play in the Island Resort Championship in Harris.
“That’s the best thing about golf, is there is always another tournament to play in,” she said.
She said BOYNE showed her love this week.
“They love me no matter what, they know I’m trying my hardest and a lot of them came out and watched and saw that I was playing good golf,” she said. “It’s just that sometimes the putts don’t drop.”
Putts have dropped for Frye, though she felt like she could have made more in the second round.
“I feel like I left so many out there, but it was good and I’m excited for tomorrow and a chance to make some more,” said the former University of Kentucky standout seeking her first win on tour. “I’ll probably do some processing tonight and try and come out here and do my best.”
Alice Hodge of Larchmont, NY., was among the six golfers at 139 with Plata after a 66, just three shots off the lead, and she had an interesting take on playing Sunday’s round with her father Russell handling caddie duties.
“He means a lot to me, and he’s done so much to help me get to where I am,” she said. “So, it’s going to be really special, and we’re just going to try and have fun and enjoy our Father’s Day, because I know that’s what he would want.”
Plata was not the only golfer with university ties to Michigan, but she was the only one to make the 36-hole cut.
Yurika Tanida, a former Michigan State Spartan and former GAM Women’s Player of the Year while in college shot 75 for 149, and current Spartan standout, Brooke Biermann shot 77 for 154.
Former University of Michigan standout Ashley Lau shot 73 for 147 to miss the cut, as did former Wolverines Monet Chun, who shot 76 for 149, and Hailey Borja, who shot 76 for 154.
The winner Sunday will take home $37,500 and a shot at another $20,000 in bonus money is available because The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Epson Tour created the Pure Michigan Cup.
The Pure Michigan Cup money will be distributed to the top three points earners at the conclusion of the Michigan stretch of tournaments, which includes last week’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, this week’s Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands and next week’s Island Resort Championship in Harris.
To be eligible the players must have played in each of the three tournaments. Points are awarded based on finish positions, and the top point earner will get $10,000. Second place gets a bonus of $6,000 and third place $4,000.