Australian Senior Golfer

AMERICAN teenager Jessica Korda won the 2012 Women’s Australian Open with a sensational seven-metre birdie putt on the second playoff hole on Sunday.

The 18 year old was part of an extraordinary six-way playoff as the Royal Melbourne golf course refused to make anything easy for the final day competitors.

The six lady golfers needed two goes at the 18th hole for one of them to finally make a winning birdie putt.

In the end it was perhaps fitting that Korda prevailed. Her father Petr won the Australian Open tennis title in Melbourne in 1998.

“I was so, so nervous,” she said later. “I really wanted to make that birdie, but it took a couple more tries.”

Korda (74) had started the day a stroke ahead and looked to be cruising when she led by two strokes after eight holes but then a double bogey on the ninth and four more on the back appeared to have ended her tilt at her first professional win.

The South Korean pair So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo, the 2011 US Open champion and runner-up respectively, had the title between them for all money when they arrived at the 18th hole a stroke ahead of the field.

Inexplicably, they both three putted for bogeys, leaving six players on three under in regulation at the top of the leaderboard.

That included the Koreans, Korda, Americans Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lincicome and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada.

They split into two groups and all six parred the first playoff hole, the 18th. Korda’s sweeping downhill putt at their second attempt ended the drama.

”Dad and I spoke on Monday,” Korda said. ”He was saying Melbourne’s been good to him … It’s a really special place for my family. For my first win, I honestly couldn’t have thought of a better place.”

Lewis – who was the tournament co-leader after day one – was the best performed player over the 18 holes of regulation play, with four birdies seeing her shoot 70, while Lincicome and Granada both finished with 71.

Ryu and Seo finished with an even-par score of 73 while fellow South Korean Jenny Shin finished at two-under in outright seventh.

American Katie Futcher and world number one Yani Tseng – who won the Australian Open in 2010 and 2011 – were a shot further back in a tie for eighth.

Nikki Campbell and Sarah Kemp were the best of the Australians, both finishing at one-over in a tie for 12th.

Sarah Kemp shares lead on 4-under

AUSTRALIA’S Sarah Kemp and American Stacy Lewis are tied for the lead on 4-under after the first round of the 2012 ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open.

Kemp, anointed a couple of years back as the next big thing in Australian women’s golf, shot a blemish free round of 69 and will be hoping to keep the momentum going over the next three days at a magnificently prepared Royal Melbourne.

The 26 year old claimed four birdies, three of them in a five-hole stretch from the third to the seventh holes.

Lewis was a little more uneven, shooting six birdies and two bogeys, including one at the last that cost her the outright lead.

A shot further back were defending champion and world No.1 Yani Tseng from Taiwan,  American Brittany Lincicome and Paraguayan Julieta Granada.

Three years ago Kemp was Australia’s leading amateur but has admitted to being “absolutely” frustrated since she turned professional and battled to match the hopes placed on her shoulders.

“When I had a really good amateur career and I won everything Webbie (Karrie Webb) did when she was young, I was branded the next Webbie,” Kemp said after her round.

“I played two years in Europe and then I got my (LPGA) card at the first go in Q-school. It was a little bit frustrating but Webbie’s kind of one in a million. That kind of career is pretty spectacular. If I could have a quarter of that you’d be stoked,” she said. “I’d say that my best years are yet to come.”

Kemp will be hoping that starts this weekend but she knows a big issue in the past has been consistency.

“That’s something that’s my goal this year, to put four really good rounds together,” she said. “Over the last couple of years I’ve been able to put two and three together.”

The “Webbie” in question meanwhile didn’t have things go so smoothly. The four-time champion finished at 2-over but was staying positive saying she saw some “positive signs out there” after making some recent swing changes.

SIX of the world’s top 10 women golfers will take to the iconic Royal Melbourne golf course this week battling for the 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.

The favourite has to be world No.1 Yani Tseng who will be gunning for her third Australian Open title in succession but there are many other contenders ranging from Australia’s 37-year-old five time champion Karrie Webb down to 14-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko.

Just a couple of weeks back Ko became the youngest player of either sex ever to win a professional tournament with her victory at the New South Wales Open and she is not the only teenager in the mix.

The wealth of talent is aided by the fact that this year for the first time the Open is co-sanctioned by the US LPGA and the event will be the opening tournament of their 2012 global season. It is also of course part of the ALPG and Ladies European Tours.

After her amazing 12 tournament victories last year the 23-year-old Tseng is a standout and is ominously talking about having made some very positive changes to her already powerful swing.

”It’s stronger,” the Taiwanese star said this week of her remodelled swing. ”I have more power. I don’t swing as hard as before. I feel I am swinging easier and striking the ball better.

”Now I feel that if I swing 70 to 80 per cent, the ball is still flying better than before. I always tried to swing really hard. Now I don’t swing so hard but the ball still goes that far.”

We’d all like to be able to say that and it should be fascinating to watch Tseng in action on a course she encountered for the first time in practice rounds this week.

The other Top 10 contenders include Norway’s Suzann Pettersen (No.2), American trio Cristie Kerr (No.4), Brittany Lincicome (No.9) and Stacy Lewis (No.10) as well as South Korean Jiyai Shin (No. 7).

Queenslander Webb, who has also been talking up some positive swing changes this week, will lead the Australian charge. The last of her four Australian Open titles came in 2008 at Kingston Heath.

“I really believe I still have some great golf to play,” Webb said this week. “If I can achieve these swing changes, I believe that is a chance … you never say never.”

Other top Aussies competing for the title include Frances Bondad, Nikki Campbell, Lindsey Wright, Katherine Hull, Sarah Kemp and Kristie Smith.

Another youngster well worth highlighting is 16-year-old American sensation Lexi Thompson who last year became the youngest player in history to win an LPGA Tour event when she took the Navistar Classic last September and followed it up with the same claim to fame on the Ladies European Tour when she won the season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters.

Other American contenders include Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford.

Swedes Caroline Hedwall, Anna Nordqvist and Sophie Gustafson, Spain’s Azahara Munoz, the Netherlands’ Christel Boeljon and Germany’s Sandra Gal join the European assault.

Of course you can’t leave out South Korea, which has become a powerhouse in women’s golf over the past few years.

In addition to world No.7 Shin the top contenders include Ryu So-Yeon, Park Hee-Young, Kim Ha-Neul and Seo Hee-kyung.

2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open Television Times

The Women’s Australian Open will be broadcast live on free to air on ABC TV with first round coverage from 3pm to 6pm on Thursday.

Second Round coverage is 3pm to 6pm Friday, Third Round 2pm to 6pm Saturday; Final Round 1pm to 6pm Sunday.

2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open: Live Leaderboard

2012 Australian Women’s Open Live Leaderboard

World No.1 Yani Tseng headlines the Australian Open field

TOP International golf returns to Royal Melbourne in February with a number of the world’s top women golfers to compete in the LPGA sanctioned 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.

Six of the world’s 10 leading players will be competing at the scene of the 2011 Presidents Cup for a record prize pool of US$1.1 million.

World No.1 Yani Tseng leads the pack that includes Norway’s Suzann Pettersen (#2), Korean Jiyai Shin (#7) and Americans Cristie Kerr (#4), Stacy Lewis (#9) and Brittany Lincicome (#10).

Joining them is Australian World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb and Americans Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford and new LPGA Tour member Lexi Thompson.

Thompson became the youngest player in history to win an LPGA event at 16 years of age at the Navistar Classic last September. She followed up by becoming the youngest professional to win on the Ladies European Tour at the season ending Dubai Ladies Masters.

Thompson, who has played in Melbourne for the last two years, said she was looking forward to the composite course challenge.

“I am so excited to make my debut as a member of the LPGA at the 2012 ISPS Handa Australian Open.  I watched the Presidents Cup with great interest and can’t wait to play Royal Melbourne.  I truly enjoyed my previous trips to Australia and I am really looking forward to the wonderful fans and amazing hospitality down under,” Thompson said.

2011 US Women’s Open champion So-Yeon Ryu heads an impressive list of Korean players including 2008 and 2009 US Women’s Open champions Inbee Park and Eun-Hee Ji and Hee Young Park who won the LPGA’s season ending CME Group Titleholders in November.

The European charge will be lead by former Open champions Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson as well as Sandra Gal, Melissa Reid, Anna Nordqvist and Ladies European Tour Player of the Year Caroline Hedwall.

In total, 18 of the 2011 Solheim Cup representatives will be in action in Melbourne.

Australians Katherine Hull, Nikki Campbell, Sarah Kemp, Kristie Smith, Lindsey Wright and Frances Bondad join Webb as the home challengers.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said “The world’s eyes will be on Melbourne for this sensational field and with so many outstanding players, it’s hard to know which way to look. We’re excited to welcome the LPGA Tour to Melbourne for the first time and to kick off their global season.”

The event is on from February 9 – 12 with host broadcaster ABC TV covering all four days of the championship.

The 21012 SPS Handa Women’s Australian Open is a fully sanctioned LPGA Tour event and is sanctioned by the ALPG Tour and Ladies European Tour.

Tickets are available from Ticketek

Sylvia Donahoe takes her 7th national senior title

IT WAS a tough battle that went to the 19th match play hole but Sylvia Donohoe has won her seventh Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.

Donohoe, from the Narooma Golf Club on the NSW south coast, defeated Carmel MacDermott in a see-sawing 2011 final at the Toowoomba Golf Club west of Brisbane.

MacDermott, a Toowoomba member in her first National Championship, kept the large crowd following the match enthused when she was leading the favourite 2up after 9 holes.

Donohoe fought back to be all square after 16 and then took the 17th.

Not to be deterred, MacDermott won the 18th hole forcing extra play.

However, with long-time caddie Pat McCabe on the bag, Donohoe prevailed to win the match on the 19th.

It was a great performance by the finalists, as both had to overcome tough semi-finals matches to advance to the Final.

Donohoe defeated 2010 Champion Robyn Puckett from the USA on the 19th hole, while MacDermott beat last year’s runner up, Josie Ryan from Queensland 5&4.

In the original qualifying rounds, Donohoe had qualified in the number one position, while MacDermott qualified number 11.

The Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship is open to players aged 55 years and over. Players contest 36-holes qualifying, with the leading 16 players progressing to elimination match play. There are also four age flights.

Age Division Flight winners were:
55-59 years: Vicki Jones (Qld) bt Pauline Jeffery (ACT) 4&2
60-64 years: Lu Proud (Tas) bt Liz Smyth (ACT) 2up
65-69 years: Ruth Yelland (QLD) bt Sandra Gilles (NSW) 1up
70 years and over: Anne Brown (Qld) bt Hellen Pearson (Qld) 6&5

2010 Champion Robyn Puckett

ENTRIES are still open for the 2011 Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Golf Championship to be held in October in Toowoomba but you need to be quick.

The championship is in its 25th year and  will be held at the picturesque Toowoomba Golf Club at Middle Ridge from 24-28 October 2011.

The official cut off time for entries is next Monday September 26.

Entries have been received from competitors Australia wide with last year’s Champion Robyn Puckett from the USA returning to defend her title.

Six-time Champion Sylvia Donohue from NSW is also returning and is aiming for her seventh title, whilst local former Champions Wendy O’Connell and Josie Ryan are sure to put up a fight to ensure the trophy remains in their home state.
The Toowoomba course is one of Queensland and Australia’s finest inland golf courses and has been ranked in the top 20 in Queensland by Australian Golf Digest. After the devastating events of earlier this year in the region, the city and the club will appreciate the support.

Don’t forget if you bring a friend who did not play in the event in 2010, 2009 or 2008, or introduce a new friend to the championship, you will both go into the draw to win a $300 voucher for dinner at the bistro of Toowoomba Golf Club.
Get a group of friends together and enter now for a fun and social week and the chance to become a national champion.

The entry fee is $105 and competitors receive a player gift, and entry to a Welcome Cocktail Party.

The Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship is open to players aged 55 years and over.

The Championship is played over 36-holes qualifying, followed by elimination match play. The leading 16 players qualify for the major championship, in addition the top eight players in four age divisions qualifying for their own age match play Flights.

To keep things interesting, there will be a Handicap Competition ( Limit 22.2) held in conjunction with the first two rounds of qualifying, as well as a State Teams Event to enhance the state rivalry.

2011 Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship Info and Entry Details

SEEKING her eighth Major title, Australia’s Karrie Webb is just three strokes behind the leaders after the first round of the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Three of those strokes were putts that lead to a nervous first hole bogey in stifling desert heat at the Mission Hills course in California.

The 36 year old is a two-time champion at the event and is hoping to capitalise on her recent great form at what is the first major of the women’s golf calendar.

After the early setback she fought back with four birdies to post a three-under 69 and shares seventh place behind joint leaders Brittany Lincicome and Stacy Lewis of the US.

“I was a little tight to start with,” Webb said. “I feel good about how I got through that.

“I birdied the second, so it settled me down a little bit but I probably played the first six or seven holes a little bit tight and settled in after that.”

Following her two recent wins Webb is leading the LPGA Tour money list.

“I don’t think I should be out here if I’m not a little bit nervous and, you know, having high expectations going into the first round,” she said.

Sarah Jane Smith shot an even par  72 and is the next best placed Aussie while Lindsey Wright and Katherine Hull both shot 76s.

Lincicome won the title in 2009 while Lewis is still looking for her first tour victory.

Germany’s Sandra Gal and Japan’s Mika Miyazato were one shot behind the leaders while World No.1 and defending champion Yani Tseng shot a 70.

2011 Kraft Nabisco Leaderboard.

AUSTRALIA’S Karrie Webb has had her first win on the LPGA tour in almost two years after snatching a one shot victory at the HSBC Women’s Championship in Singapore.

“I’m one ahead of my age,” Webb quipped after securing her 37th LPGA tour title.

“I kicked it in on the back nine. I got it done and it feels great,” she said.

Webb was three strokes behind tournament leader Chie Arimura of Japan after a bogey on the 10th hole but a red hot putting streak saw a string of birdies and she finished with a 3-under 69 for a 13-under total (275).

New world No.1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan (67) jumped into contention with five birdies on the front nine, but couldn’t keep up the pace and finished in third place  three shots behind Webb.

Webb has had a lean time on the tour since 2007, claiming just one victory in Phoenix in March 2009.

But the 36 year old showed glimpses of the form that took her to seven major titles and made her the dominant player in women’s golf.

“I definitely take a lot of confidence from it,” Webb said. “I putted the last couple really well, I’ve putted well pretty much the whole four weeks that I’ve played.”

Webb was pound of the way she had reined in her reactions to hitting bad shots.

“I have not had a complete week where I didn’t let bad shots get me down and I got up and down fairly often,” she said of the win.

“I shrugged off the bogeys fairly quickly as well. The job I did mentally is probably the best job I’ve done for a long time.”

THERE was a slight flutter on the front nine but in the end Taiwan’s Yani Tseng cruised to a four stroke win at the ANZ RACV Australian Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast yesterday to take the top spot in women’s golf.

The win took Tseng to the top of the world women’s golf rankings, realising a long held dream by the deeply talented 22 year old.

“I never expected this to come so soon,” Tseng said. ”There is still a long way to go, there’s another 11 months to go [to hold on to the No.1 spot for a year]. Today, I just feel like, ‘This is not true.’ It’s unreal. I just feel really appreciative of all the people who have been helping me all those years.”

Tseng arrived in Australia a few weeks ago as world No.5 but after wins at the Handa Australian Open in Melbourne last week and now at Royal Pines she will return home a national sporting hero.

Knowing the top spot was up for grabs, Tseng was perhaps a little tight on the front nine, but still managed two birdies to just one bogey.

Her eagle on the 15th all but secured the title and her final round 68 combined for a total of 264, just two shots off seven time winner Karrie Webb’s tournament record.

Australian Nikki Campbell shot a final-round 64 to finish tied with American Stacey Lewis (69) with countrywoman Ryann O’Toole (69) finishing six strokes behind Tseng.

Former world No.1 Jiyai Shin of South Korea tied for second in Melbourne  last week but did not contest the Masters.

Karrie Webb was disappointed with her early round performances but finished with a  67 to end eight strokes behind the winner.

ANZ RACV Australian Ladies Masters Final Leaderboard

THE 2011 ANZ RACV Australian Ladies Masters is underway at Royal Pines Resort with seven time winner and Queensland local Karrie Webb hoping to make it number eight.

“I hope so, it’s always a great feeling to come back here, it’s an even better feeling when I am defending champion, I would love to be up there in the mix on Sunday, so will see what happens,” Webb said before the start of the Gold Coast tournament.

Also hoping for improvement on her performance at the Handa Australian Women’s Open last week will be 2009 champion Katherine Hull.

Hull tied for seventh with Webb in Melbourne and let her frustrations and emotions get the better of her at times.

The world No.18 is hoping to better channel that energy this year and make it into the top five.

The real tournament threat of course is Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, who moved to the world No.2 spot after cruising to a win in Melbourne.

Tseng could well be sitting on top of the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings by Sunday night.

“It would be a dream come true. When I was twelve my dreams were to be world number one and I know it was very very far away. But now I am sitting here and I have a chance to get to be work number one, it feels it means a lot,” Tseng said at Royal Pines, speaking of how watching Webb play had inspired her as a teenage golfer.

Other players to watch include Open runner-up Mellissa Reid from England, three-time winner Laura Davies and European No.1 in 2010 South African Lee-Anne Pace.

There is also a strong American contingent including Angela Stanford, Stacy Lewis, Amanda Blumenherst and the just turned 16-year old Alexis Thompson.

There is a host of other golfing talent from Australia, America, Europe, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

The weekend rounds of the Australian Ladies Masters will be televised live on Channel 10 and One HD from 2pm – 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

 2011 ANZ RACV Ladies Masters LIVE LEADERBOARD