Gal makes late Cup bid

German golfer Sandra Gal has suddenly given herself a chance to represent Europe next month in the Solheim Cup.

It's a match for which she is currently ineligible.

The 24-year-old took a one-stroke lead into the second round of the Ricoh Women's British Open after coming in with a three-under-par 69 at 9.11pm on Thursday, long after television coverage had ended and also after most fans had left.

Gal is ranked 69th in the world, but having come through the LPGA Tour qualifying school in America while still an amateur she has never joined the European circuit and therefore does not qualify for cup selection.

However, should she win the final major of the season on Sunday Gal instantly earns an exemption and could then be named two hours later as one of captain Alison Nicholas' three wild cards.

"Unfortunately I had a very short off-season, so decided not to play the European qualifying school, which I probably regret a little bit," she commented.

Then she was told about the cup opportunity and added: "That's an exciting possibility for sure."

Gal's performance came in an opening round of slow rounds and many, many high scores.

France's Gwladys Nocera, last season's European Tour number one and clear leader on the Solheim Cup points table, was in tears after a 19-over-par 91 put her in last place.

Korean Soo-yung Kang finished with an octuple-bogey 12 on the 386-yard 18th for an 87. She was then listed as disqualified for not signing her card, although it was later changed to a more forgiving "no return".

The 12 came when Kang drove into sand, pulled her third, chipped into a bunker, hit herself with her next shot to incur a two-stroke penalty, went into another bunker, had to come out sideways and three-putted.

England's 2005 winner Karen Stupples shot 82, fellow cup hopeful Melissa Reid 81 - she is playing with a snapped wrist cartilage, but refused to blame that - and in all 57 of the 144-strong field failed to break 80.

Gal's birdie on the 17th and brilliant up and down from thick rough right of the 18th green left American Angela Stanford and Korea's Song-hee Kim in joint second place.

Leading British player was Scot Vikki Laing in joint seventh on one over. Michelle Wie was on the same mark and world number one Lorena Ochoa three over.