Red numbers all over the leaderboard during round two of the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic, with nine players signing for rounds of 66 or better, including the 36-hole leader, Ana Belac. The field battled through soggy course conditions on day two but was part of the reason the course yielded so many birdies, with players able to take dead aim at the hole. Sixty-four players will head into Sunday, all chasing down the coveted Race for the Card points that come with making the cut. With only two more chances to change their fate after this week, it is set to be an important Sunday for the remaining 64 players.

Belac has been exceptional through 36 holes in Tuscaloosa, going bogey-free for the second straight day. The Slovenian opened her tournament with a 7-under 65 and followed it up with a 6-under 66 to hold a two-shot lead at 13-under.

The second round for the 27-year-old was a ball-striking clinic, only missing three greens on the day. She took advantage of the greens she missed, chipping in twice for birdie. The consistent play has not left Belac all season as she has now made her 12th straight cut, giving her a 100% made cut rate during her 2024 season. A win this week would mark Belac's second career victory, winning the 2020 Carolina Golf Classic the same season she earned LPGA Tour membership for the first time. Belac hopes her second win has the same result, but right now, she is just focusing on playing her game and keeping her aggressive mindset.

"I feel like I just kind of carried the momentum from yesterday," said Belac. "I kind of just blacked out a little bit, hit a few approaches close, and made a few birdies that way. Then, on the back nine, I chipped in twice. I think there were only three greens that I missed. Just kind of carried the momentum and had fun out there."

Ingrid Lindblad and Ashley Lau, at 11-under for the tournament, round out the lead group heading into Sunday.

Lindblad is in the final group for the second straight week, falling just one shot short at the Guardian Championship after a bogey on the 54-hole of the tournament. This week, the Swede has 13 birdies along with two bogeys. Her second round ties the lowest round of her young professional career, and she does not plan to stop being aggressive with her gameplan anytime soon.

"I think I am just staying aggressive. Just go at the pins because the balls are stopping on the greens," explained Lindblad. "It's not going to run away from you or anywhere in the green unless you're coming from the rough. I'm just staying aggressive, and I feel like I did that last week, too, but it was just one shot short."

Lau shared the lead with Belac after 18 holes, and after her 4-under round on day two, she will start the just two shots behind the leader. Lau's day started off bumpy, making two bogeys in her first three holes but getting a shot back with a birdie on her fourth hole. Once the Malaysians settled in, the birdies began to fall. The floodgates opened on her second nine, starting the side off with a birdie and adding four more before the end of the round, carding a 5-under 31 to close out her day.

The final round of the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic will begin at 8:00 a.m. local time, with players playing holes 1 and 10. After the conclusion of play, an awards presentation will follow.

ABOUT THE LEADER

Ana Belac holds the lead at 13-under after 36-holes of play at the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic

Belac signed for a bogey-free 6-under 66 in round two
- She has played all 36-holes bogey-free this week
The Slovenian was the 2020 Epson Tour Player of the Year
She competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics representing Slovenia
The 27-year-old has made the cut in every event she has played this season
- Her best placing is a runner-up finish at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
Belac won the 2020 Carolina Golf Classic on the Epson Tour

THINGS TO KNOW

Briana Chacon carded an 8-under 64 in her second round moving her into the top 10

Chacon shot a 7-under 29 on the back nine of Ol’ Colony Golf Course in round two
She won the 2024 Atlantic Beach Charity Classic to capture her first professional victory
Competed collegiately at the University of Oregon, where she holds the lowest all-time scoring average in program history
The 22-year-old was the first University of Oregon Duck to win a NCAA Regional Individual Title (2022 NCAA Albuquerque Regional)
One of three players in program history to earn multiple WGCA All-America honors

Amari Avery signed for an 8-under 64 moving her into fourth place at the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic

Avery was bogey-free in round two, making six birdies and one eagle
The 20-year-old is a rookie on the Epson Tour
She has one top 10 finish this season
- She finished T7 at the Dream First Bank Charity Classic
Avery was All-American while attending the University of Southern California in 2023

QUICK QUOTES

Ashley Lau (-11, T2) on overcoming the rough start to her round:

“It was a rocky start today and just honestly wasn't hitting the ball as well today. I wasn't putting it as close, but I think putter on the back nine started warming up a little bit. I learned to not look too far ahead and just kind of stay present in the moment. I think tomorrow is the same thing. Just one shot at a time.”

Fatima Fernandez Cano (-9, T5) on her game following her win last week and being in contention again:

“I feel very solid. I'm a little bit further behind than I was last week, but I'm pretty close. I'm playing very well, so hopefully I can put a low one out there tomorrow and give it another chance.”

Riley Rennell (-9, T5) on her 6-under second round and hole-out eagle:

“I kind of found the putter in the middle of my round, but it was really my ball striking that came through. I hit a lot of really good shots pretty close. I hit a lot of like shots inside ten feet. I had a really good number into No. 6. I had 114-yard gap wedge and I it was like a blind second shot so I couldn't see it go in. Everybody else said it hit short and it was just like rolling slowly toward the hole. It was a cool moment.”

Ana Belac Searching Her for Second Career Win in Tuscaloosa

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