Sharmila misses cut despite fine finish

Sharmila Nicollet's valiant effort in the closing stages went in vain as she missed the cut by one shot after the second round of the Tenerife Open de Espana Femenino at Golf Las Americas in Tenerife.

Sharmila, who shot 72 in the opening round, and was placed 40th, carded 75 in the second and ended at three-over 47, while the cut came at two-over 146.

Sharmila had a poor start with two bogeys in the first three holes and a third on eighth. She put herself out of the running for a weekend spot as she had her fourth bogey on the 14th to go to four-over.

But she still had a chance if she found two birdies in the last four holes. She did get those birdies on 16th and 18th, but she also dropped a bogey on the 17th and made an exit.

Australian Nikki Garrett made a final-hole birdie to retain her overnight lead at the end of the second round.

After a career low 64 on Thursday, the 28-year-old from New South Wales started the day with a three stroke advantage at eight under par and carded a second-round 73 in hot and breezy conditions to end seven under taking a one stroke lead into the weekend.

Germany's Caroline Masson, England's Florentyna Parker and French duo Joanna Klatten and Celine Palomar were a stroke back at six under par.

Garrett was surprised to be leading as England's Laura Davies was eight under when she teed off, but the Englishwoman triple bogeyed the last hole to slip back into a group at five under. Davies, the 2010 champion, shared sixth place.