BIG-HITTING LAURA DAVIES LEADS IN AUSTRALIA CUP

FROM THE AUSTRALIA WOMEN'S PRO GOLF WEBSITE
Former women’s world No 1, Laura Davies birdied the final hole to edge out two of Australian golf’s promising young players to lead the 2011 ISPS Handa Australia Cup.
Stephanie Na and Oliver Goss have shot impressive 66’s in sweltering conditions and must have like their chances of leading into the final day.
That was until Davies, playing in the final group with Wayne Grady and Min Jee Lee, made a late run with birdies on four of the final six holes.
Davies' 18th hole birdie showed the kind of power and finesse that has seen the English legend reach the top of the women’s game. An epic drive followed by a deft pitch left just under two feet for birdie and the overnight lead.
Goss led early with a birdie-birdie-par-eagle-birdie start but cooled off slightly before a late birdie saw him post the first 66 of the day. The Royal Fremantle member is no stranger to elite competition having almost won the Cottesloe Open in 2010 only to be pipped by a late charge by eventual winner Kim Felton. He will no doubt draw on that experience to mount a final day charge.
Stephanie Na, 22, in only her second season as professional, posted seven birdies before stumbling with her only bogey at the last. The former world class amateur has an impressive all-round game and no doubt is keen to gauge her skills against Davies in what promises to be a fascinating final day showdown.
The tournament in its fifth year at Nedlands Golf Club is the brainchild of Dr Haruhisa Handa, Chairman of the International Sports Promotion Society. In what is know as ‘the joining of the generations’ Australia’s up and coming juniors play alongside and learn from some of the greats of the game.
Leading the men’s professional category are Mike Harwood and Craig Mann with one under 71’s. The hot and unusually humid conditions not surprisingly took their toll on the senior players with no respite in sight for Sunday final round.
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