THREE SHARE LEAD OF 68 AT ROYAL CANBERRA LADIES CLASSIC
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN LADIES PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Australian Frances Bondad, Canadian Jessica Shepley and Australian amateur Ashley Ona share the lead at five-under par 68 after the opening round of the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic being played at the Royal Canberra Golf Club in the Nation’s capital.
On a perfect summer’s day (Editor: It's summer time Down Under) it was New South Wales' Bondad who got off to a great start posting six birdies and one bogey to be clubhouse leader. The key to her round today was her putter. She said,
“I’m pretty happy with my putting. I’ve been struggling since the start of January, I worked hard on it yesterday.” Bondad, who has just completed her third and most successful year on the Ladies European Tour, carded just 27 putts.
When asked about her round she responded “I had set myself a goal today to be two-under through nine and then finish three or four under, so I’m more than happy with my score.”
It was then Queensland amateur Ona who fired four birdies, an eagle on the par 5 16th and a bogey in her round to join Bondad at the top. Not long after it became a three way tie when Shepley posted a flawless round which included five birdies.
Shepley was extremely happy with her round - “I played solid, five birdies and no bogeys, putted well today and I left a couple of the par 5’s but I’ll take it. The course is beautiful, given the trouble they have had in the last month or so (rain) it is in great shape.”
When asked about her game plan for tomorrow, the 27-year-old responded, “One shot at a time and have fun out there, don’t think too much about the score. There are so many great players who are going to go low, so I just have to stay in it.”
Australians Vicky Thomas and Bree Arthur share fourth place just one shot adrift, with another four players at three-under par including defending champion Kristie Smith, tournament favourite Katherine Hull, American Katie Futcher and young Australian rookie Stacey Keating.
Smith was very pleased to have the first round out of the way, saying, “I was a little nervous going into today but that was to be expected. I am happy with that start, it was a good start.”
Another five players share tenth a further shot back and well in contention, including Women’s NSW Open winner Swede Caroline Hedwall and Galway-born Alison Walshe who played for the United States in the 2008 Curtis Cup match at the Old Course, St Andrews.
Some of the big names of the tournament are lurking at one-under par including England’s Laura Davies, Frenchwomen Gwladys Nocera and Australian Lindsey Wright.
Local member and home town favourite Nikki Campbell carded a one-over par 74 to sit in a tie for 34th position.
Other notable scores from Round 1 include South African Lee-Anne Pace (73) who is tied for 23rd position, while England’s Melissa Reid shot a 74 to also be tied 34th.
SCOREBOARD
Par 73
Players from Australia unless stated
68 Ashley Ona
68 Ashley Ona (amateur), Jessica Shipley (Canada), Frances Bondad.
69 Vicky Thomas, Bree Arthur
Selected scores
71 Alison Walshe (Ireland) (jt 10th).
72 Laura Davies (England) (jt 15th).
73 Felicity Johnson (England), Rebecca Coakley (Ireland) (jt 23rd).
74 Melissa Reid (England), Sophie Walker (England) (jt 34th).
TO READ ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
CLICK HERE
Australian Frances Bondad, Canadian Jessica Shepley and Australian amateur Ashley Ona share the lead at five-under par 68 after the opening round of the ActewAGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic being played at the Royal Canberra Golf Club in the Nation’s capital.
On a perfect summer’s day (Editor: It's summer time Down Under) it was New South Wales' Bondad who got off to a great start posting six birdies and one bogey to be clubhouse leader. The key to her round today was her putter. She said,
“I’m pretty happy with my putting. I’ve been struggling since the start of January, I worked hard on it yesterday.” Bondad, who has just completed her third and most successful year on the Ladies European Tour, carded just 27 putts.
When asked about her round she responded “I had set myself a goal today to be two-under through nine and then finish three or four under, so I’m more than happy with my score.”
It was then Queensland amateur Ona who fired four birdies, an eagle on the par 5 16th and a bogey in her round to join Bondad at the top. Not long after it became a three way tie when Shepley posted a flawless round which included five birdies.
Shepley was extremely happy with her round - “I played solid, five birdies and no bogeys, putted well today and I left a couple of the par 5’s but I’ll take it. The course is beautiful, given the trouble they have had in the last month or so (rain) it is in great shape.”
When asked about her game plan for tomorrow, the 27-year-old responded, “One shot at a time and have fun out there, don’t think too much about the score. There are so many great players who are going to go low, so I just have to stay in it.”
Australians Vicky Thomas and Bree Arthur share fourth place just one shot adrift, with another four players at three-under par including defending champion Kristie Smith, tournament favourite Katherine Hull, American Katie Futcher and young Australian rookie Stacey Keating.
Smith was very pleased to have the first round out of the way, saying, “I was a little nervous going into today but that was to be expected. I am happy with that start, it was a good start.”
Another five players share tenth a further shot back and well in contention, including Women’s NSW Open winner Swede Caroline Hedwall and Galway-born Alison Walshe who played for the United States in the 2008 Curtis Cup match at the Old Course, St Andrews.
Some of the big names of the tournament are lurking at one-under par including England’s Laura Davies, Frenchwomen Gwladys Nocera and Australian Lindsey Wright.
Local member and home town favourite Nikki Campbell carded a one-over par 74 to sit in a tie for 34th position.
Other notable scores from Round 1 include South African Lee-Anne Pace (73) who is tied for 23rd position, while England’s Melissa Reid shot a 74 to also be tied 34th.
SCOREBOARD
Par 73
Players from Australia unless stated
68 Ashley Ona
68 Ashley Ona (amateur), Jessica Shipley (Canada), Frances Bondad.
69 Vicky Thomas, Bree Arthur
Selected scores
71 Alison Walshe (Ireland) (jt 10th).
72 Laura Davies (England) (jt 15th).
73 Felicity Johnson (England), Rebecca Coakley (Ireland) (jt 23rd).
74 Melissa Reid (England), Sophie Walker (England) (jt 34th).
TO READ ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: Pro Ladies
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 10:50:00 am
<< Home