Caldwell and Meadow hit the ground running Down Under
Stephanie Meadow is an ambassador for the 20 x 20 campaign @INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Stephanie Meadow is an ambassador for the 20 x 20 campaign @INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Finding something you thought was lost is one of life’s sweetest feelings. So it’s no wonder that Jonny Caldwell and Stephanie Meadow appear doubly determined to take full advantage of their hard-earned tour status at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in Australia.

Meadow salvaged her LPGA Tour card at the death last year when she birdied the last two holes and tied for sixth in final counting Volunteers Classic of America in Dallas while Caldwell came through the European Tour Qualifying School at the age of 35 after 11 years in the wilderness.

Men’s scoreboard / Women’s scoreboard

The Northern Irish pair have made excellent starts Down Under with Meadow tied for 11th on eight-under after carding a second-round 70 on the Creek Course at 13th Beach Golf Links.

Clandeboye’s Jonny Caldwell with caddie Stephen Burnside at Lumine Golf Club. Picture via @ClandeboyeGC

Clandeboye’s Jonny Caldwell with caddie Stephen Burnside at Lumine Golf Club. Picture via @ClandeboyeGC

She's five shots behind leader Madelene Sagstrom with rookie Leona Maguire a shot further back in 20th after a second successive 69.

Caldwell is tied seventh on 10-under in the men's event after a brace of 67s, just four shots behind France's Robin Sciot-Siegrist with Cormac Sharvin also shooting 67 to move up to joint 20th.

"It obviously feels great to be back," said Caldwell, who made an eagle and four birdies in his 67 and dropped just one shot over the first two days. 

"I'm just trying to play my own game and golf my own ball. If I can do that, then I think that gives me the best chance to do well.

"I've played nicely so far tee to green, and as for what's pleased me most, I would have to say my course management and iron play has been strong.  

"I've been very good at playing away from flags when out of position."

Sagstrom shot a five-under 67 on the Beach Course to lead by a shot from American Ally McDonald on 13-under while in the men’s event, Sciot-Siegrist shot a bogey-free, eight-under 64 to lead Australia’s Travis Smyth by the same margin, also on 13-under.