With an 8-under par 64 in the second round of the Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic, amateur and Arizona State University student Olivia Mehaffey (Belfast, Nothern Ireland) jumped into the driver’s seat after 36 holes and heads to the weekend with a two-stroke lead.

This performance comes on the heels of a school-record 62 at the Clover Cup at the Longbow Club last week to help lead her Arizona State Women’s Golf team to victory. Mehaffey finished second individually in that event to her teammate Linn Grant.

“I hadn’t played here in a couple of years. It’s always been a course I really enjoyed but last week I wanted to learn as much as I could about the course because this week was my priority,” said Mehaffery. “I think it definitely helped and having (veteran LPGA Tour caddie) Davy (Jones) is a great help too.

“I said before the week I wanted to enjoy it. I have Davy caddying for me, and we have been great friends for years. So, it has always been a dream to have him caddie for me. It just worked out this week that he could, so just coming into the week we were excited and having a good time. It’s been good weather and good company. I can’t complain,” said Mehaffey.

Mehaffey won the 2016 Irish Women's Open Championship and the Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship. She also led the Great Britain & Ireland team to an upset victory in the Curtis Cup. The four-time All-American Sun Devil made her first appearance in a professional event at the 2016 AIG Women’s Open. In 2020, Mehaffey made the cut at the 2020 ANA Inspiration and also competed in the AIG Women’s Open and U.S. Women’s Open.

“It’s amazing, I am going to turn pro in just a couple of months,” she said. “I wanted to get as much experience as I could and to have this opportunity is amazing. I am so grateful to Carlisle Companies for giving me the invite. The more I can play with the pros the more I can learn about my game.”

AMATEUR OLIVIA MEHAFFEY CLIMBS FRIDAY LEADERBOARD IN MESA

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