Alexander surges clear at Women's Irish Open

Two eagles propelled overnight leader Casandra Alexander to a second-round 66 as the South African seized control of the Women’s Irish Open at the K Club.

Following a bogey-free 63 on Thursday, Alexander eagled the par-five 10th – her opening hole – on Friday and followed that with back-to-back birdies.

Having dropped a shot on 13, the 27-year-old carded a birdie two on 17 before recording her second eagle of the round at the third.

After a bogey on six, a birdie on seven gave Alexander a 36-hole total of 129 to sit five shots clear of the Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, who followed an opening 68 with a 66.

Canice Screene leads the home challenge on five under after mixing seven birdies with two bogeys in a five-under 67, but Aine Donegan slipped back to two under with a disappointing 73.

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