The 132-player field at the Atlantic Beach Classic was doing an anti-rain dance on Friday at Atlantic Beach Country Club. But despite avoiding weather delays, the tournament's second round was suspended due to darkness at 7:31 p.m.
Before the horns blew to end the day, 36-hole leader Lauren Stephenson was able to finish her round. It was a tale of two nine for the University of Alabama alum, who had a 7-shot difference between her two nines. Stephenson was in control of her game early in round two, continuing her stellar play with another bogey-free nine holes, making the turn with a 3-under 32. Then, on the back nine, the round started to get shaky. The first bogey of the week came on No. 11 for Stephenson, starting a snowball effect for her next six holes. She would make three more bogeys in that span, cutting her once 5-shot lead down to only one. A much-needed birdie on the par 5 18th closed out the round for Stephenson, who is likely to enter the final round with a two-shot lead.
"If you would've told me at the start that I shot even, I would take that every day given the conditions. So, it was definitely a flip flop of nines, but I played the front really well, which helped kind of go into the tougher holes on the back," said Stephenson. "I knew on that back nine I was going to make some bogeys, so I didn't get too down on myself and just kind of tried to finish off on a good note with a birdie on 18. Heading home with an even par is never a bad day."
Kim Kaufman was also able to sneak in her full round before sunset on Friday evening, carding the tied second-lowest round of the day with a 2-under 69. It was a battle in round two for the field, but there is not much the 32-year-old veteran has not seen over her 11 years as a professional. The veteran showed her experience, avoiding any really big numbers but still making two bogeys while rolling in four birdies on the day. Kaufman has had a solid start to her 2024 season, finishing inside the top 15 in the first two events. The three-time Epson Tour champion will look to make it four by the end of the day on Saturday.
"You know, we watched it rain all morning, and sometimes you can kind of talk yourself into like, it's going to be so hard, or it's going to be an awful day. But I came out, and I was hitting it well on the range," said Kaufman. "Actually, earlier in the week, I was hitting it terrible, and I kind of got a rhythm with my driver, which if you got off the tee out here, the course is definitely gettable. So just started hitting some good shots and made an early birdie on my first hole. You know, it was tough at places into the wind, but I was really scrappy. My putting was really good, so just hung in there."
The final round will be streamed from 12 p.m. ET until the conclusion of play.
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