NEW ZEALAND, GB and I ARE FIRST-DAY ASTOR TROPHY WINNERS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Pre-tournament favourites New Zealand, with the World Nos 1 and 2 in their line-up, were heading for a smooth and impressive win over South Africa at lunchtime on the opening day of the five-day Astor Trophy tournament at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.
Well, they did win in the end but let's give credit to South Africa for coming back at the Kiwis in the singles which were shared 2.5 - 2.5, giving New Zealand overall victory by 4.5-2.5
The Kiwis took the foursomes 2-0 with Lydia Ko and Cecilia Cho producing a cluster of birdies on the inward half of their 5 and 3 win over Kim Williams and Illiska Verwey of South Africa.
Kim Williams, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had a hole in one at the 10th in her afternoon singles against Lydia Ko and the second ace of her career, with a six-iron at this 177yd hole, helped the South African to beat the World No 1 by one hole.
Williams got a birdie 4 at the long 18th to win by one hole.
It was a quality match, Ko approximately four under par for the round - and losing!
"I've no idea of my score," said Kim Williams, "but it's been a terrific afternoon for me. Getting a hole in one, my first ever in competitive play,  and beating the World No 1 is something special."
Great Britain made a solid start to beat Australia 5-2, the match finishing on a spectacular note when Holly Clyburn pitched in from 35 yards, over a bunker for a birdie 4 at the last hole to snatch a halved match with Emma de Groot who plays on the US college circuit for Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Scots Kelsey MacDonald and Pamela Pretswell were both under par in winning by 6 and 5, and 4 and 3 respectively.
Kelly Tidy also played well in scoring a 4 and 3 win over Ashley Ona.
No doubt teams have lost a match and still gone on to win the Astor Trophy - or the Commonwealth Tournament as it used to be known - but, at the moment, you would have to say that the title is now a three-cornered fight between first-day winners New Zealand, and Great Britain and Ireland, plus Canada who start their programme on Thursday and have a straight run through now to Sunday's finish. All the other countries still have to have their "day off."
Allowing for the fact that Canada are an unknown quantity until we see how they get on in their opening match against Australia, the key match looks to be Saturday's New Zealand v Great Britain and Ireland. GB and I get to put their feet up on Friday so they should be well rested for the "big one."
Results between now and Saturday could make a nonsense of these statements, of course, but that is the beauty of match-play, the original form of golf and one in which you can never be 100 per cent sure of the outcome.

DAY ONE RESULTS
 NEW ZEALAND 4.5, SOUTH AFRICA 2.5
Foursomes (2-0)
Emily Perry and Chantelle Cassidy bt Bertine Strauss and Henriett Frylinck 2 and 1.
Lydia Ko and Cecilia Cho bt Kim Williams and Illiska Verwey 5 and 3.

Singles (2.5-2.5)
Julianna Alvarez bt Tiffany Averen-Taplin 7 and 5.
Cassidy halved with Strauss.
Perry lost to Frylinck 7 and 6.
Cho bt Verwey 2 and 1.
Ko lost to Williams 1 hole.


GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND 5, AUSTRALIA 2

Foursomes (1.5-0.5)
Kelly Tidy and Amy Boulden bt Emma de Groot and Minjee Lee 3 and 2.
Pamela Pretswell and Kelsey MacDonald halved with Breanna Elliott and Ashley Ona.

Singles (3.5-1.5)
MacDonald bt Cathleen Santoso 6 and 5.
Clyburn halved with De Groot.
Pretswell bt Elliott 4 and 3.
Boulden lost to Lee 3 and 2.
Tidy bt Ona 4 and 3.

HOW THEY STAND

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND P1 W1 DO LO F5 A2 Pts 2
NEW ZEALAND P1 W1 DO LO F4.5 A2.5 Pts 2
SOUTH AFRICA P1 WO DO L1 F2.5 A 4.5 Pts 0
AUSTRALIA P1 W0 D0 L1 F2 A5 Pts 0
CANADA P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0 Pts 0

THURSDAY MATCHES
GB and I v SOUTH AFRICA
CANADA v NEW ZEALAND

FRIDAY'S MATCHES
NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA
CANADA v SOUTH AFRICA

FOR A FULL SUMMARY OF EACH DAY'S MATCHES, LOG ON TO THE LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE - http://www.lgu.org/