SARAH JANE SMITH STILL SETTING PACE IN AUSTRALIA
VIKKI LAING IN TOP 20 AT HALFWAY IN
VICTORIA OPEN
Musselburgh's Vikki Laing, pictured, the only Scot in the field at the Oates Victorian Open at Thirteenth Beach Links, Australia, is lying joint 18th at the halfway stage of the 72-hole tournament.
Vikki has had rounds of three-over 76 and two-over 76 (par 73 and par 74 courses used for first two rounds) and her 152 tally has her 12 shots behind the leader by three, Queenslander Sarah Jane Smith (67-71 for seven-under 140).
Laing had birdies at the fourth, sixth and two par-5 holes, the14th and 18th but cancelled out the high points with a double bogey 6 at the 10th and bogeys at the long second, seventh, eighth and 15th.
The 29-year-old Sarah Jane Smith is chasing her first Australian Ladies Pro Golf title and has never been in such a commanding position heading into the week-end. However, it won’t be easy as Western Australian amateur Minjee Lee is challenging for the third straight week for a professional title.
Smith sits atop of the leaderboard on seven-under-par 140, with Lee (70) three shots back. Once again the wind was up at Thirteenth Beach and conditions were challenging for everyone. Only two other players are in red numbers, Aussie Nikki Campbell (67) and American Hannah Jun (72), they are both at one-under-par and share third position.
Defending champion and local favourite Stacey Keating (74) is outright fifth at even par 147, while Canadian Lorie Kane (74), South Australian Stephanie Na (72), Queensland’s Ashley Ona (70) and Victorian Lindsey Wright (76) are at one-over-par 148 and tied for sixth.
A further shot back are three very experienced players and they are certainly not out of it, England’s pair of Laura Davies and Trish Johnson and Swede Sophie Gustafson. Between the three of them they have won over 110 titles worldwide.
Playing on the Creek course today, Smith carded five birdies and three bogeys.
Even though she didn’t match her score from round one, she was pleased with her efforts pointing out she thought the Creek Course played tougher than the Beach course.
“It was good, I think that side (Creek course) played a little tougher, it was more exposed to the wind compared to the Beach Course. Set up wise, I think Beach course is tougher.”
“I felt like I still played really well, but kept running putts by the edge or not getting to the hole.”
While the blustery winds wreaked havoc on scores during the opening two rounds, Nikki Campbell went from shooting 79 in round one to 67 on Friday, a massive 12 shot swing to jump up the leaderboard and into contention.
When asked what was the difference she explained, “I hit the ball well yesterday, but my bunker shots and putting were horrendous. I walked off the course yesterday and stood on the putting green and I thought I don’t know what to do. I tried to hit some putts out of the toe as I was hitting out of the heel a lot.”
She putted for 15 minutes as she didn’t really know what to work on and went home with the attitude “I just thought Friday will be a new day and I’ll see what happens.” It worked.
If the strong gusty winds continue over the week-end, that combined with the challenging Beach Course layout, anyone within 10 is in with a chance.
A total of 66 players will contest the final two rounds for their share of the $150,000 purse.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 147 (2 courses: 1x73, 1x74)
Players from Australia unless stated
140 Sarah Jane Smith 69 71
143 Minjee Lee (amateur) 73 70
146 Nikki Campbell 79 67, Hannah Jun (USA) 74 72
147 Stacey Keating 73 74
148 Lorie Kane (Canada) 74 74, Steph Na 76 72, Ashley Ona 78 70, Lindsey Wright 72 76.
149 Laura Davies (England) 72 77, Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) 76 73, Trish Johnson (England) 77 72, Su-Hyun Oh (amateur) 72 77
SELECTED TOTALS
152 Vikki Laing (Scotland) 76 76 (T18).
153 Felicity Johnson (England) 76 77 (T24)
154 Becky Brewerton (Wales) 79 75 (T28).
155 Hannah Burke (England) 77 78 (T32)
156 Beth Allen (USA) 79 77, Marianne Skarpnord (Norway) 78 78 (T35)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Visit www.golfvic.org.au for draws and all the latest news and tournament updates.
Follow all the tournament news and updates at www.facebook.com/GolfVictoria and on Twitter @VicOpenGolf and @Golf_Vic.
By: Sandy Lonergan (ALPG Media)
VICTORIA OPEN Musselburgh's Vikki Laing, pictured, the only Scot in the field at the Oates Victorian Open at Thirteenth Beach Links, Australia, is lying joint 18th at the halfway stage of the 72-hole tournament.
Vikki has had rounds of three-over 76 and two-over 76 (par 73 and par 74 courses used for first two rounds) and her 152 tally has her 12 shots behind the leader by three, Queenslander Sarah Jane Smith (67-71 for seven-under 140).
Laing had birdies at the fourth, sixth and two par-5 holes, the14th and 18th but cancelled out the high points with a double bogey 6 at the 10th and bogeys at the long second, seventh, eighth and 15th.
The 29-year-old Sarah Jane Smith is chasing her first Australian Ladies Pro Golf title and has never been in such a commanding position heading into the week-end. However, it won’t be easy as Western Australian amateur Minjee Lee is challenging for the third straight week for a professional title.
Smith sits atop of the leaderboard on seven-under-par 140, with Lee (70) three shots back. Once again the wind was up at Thirteenth Beach and conditions were challenging for everyone. Only two other players are in red numbers, Aussie Nikki Campbell (67) and American Hannah Jun (72), they are both at one-under-par and share third position.
Defending champion and local favourite Stacey Keating (74) is outright fifth at even par 147, while Canadian Lorie Kane (74), South Australian Stephanie Na (72), Queensland’s Ashley Ona (70) and Victorian Lindsey Wright (76) are at one-over-par 148 and tied for sixth.
A further shot back are three very experienced players and they are certainly not out of it, England’s pair of Laura Davies and Trish Johnson and Swede Sophie Gustafson. Between the three of them they have won over 110 titles worldwide.
Playing on the Creek course today, Smith carded five birdies and three bogeys.
Even though she didn’t match her score from round one, she was pleased with her efforts pointing out she thought the Creek Course played tougher than the Beach course.
“It was good, I think that side (Creek course) played a little tougher, it was more exposed to the wind compared to the Beach Course. Set up wise, I think Beach course is tougher.”
“I felt like I still played really well, but kept running putts by the edge or not getting to the hole.”
While the blustery winds wreaked havoc on scores during the opening two rounds, Nikki Campbell went from shooting 79 in round one to 67 on Friday, a massive 12 shot swing to jump up the leaderboard and into contention.
When asked what was the difference she explained, “I hit the ball well yesterday, but my bunker shots and putting were horrendous. I walked off the course yesterday and stood on the putting green and I thought I don’t know what to do. I tried to hit some putts out of the toe as I was hitting out of the heel a lot.”
She putted for 15 minutes as she didn’t really know what to work on and went home with the attitude “I just thought Friday will be a new day and I’ll see what happens.” It worked.
If the strong gusty winds continue over the week-end, that combined with the challenging Beach Course layout, anyone within 10 is in with a chance.
A total of 66 players will contest the final two rounds for their share of the $150,000 purse.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 147 (2 courses: 1x73, 1x74)
Players from Australia unless stated
140 Sarah Jane Smith 69 71
143 Minjee Lee (amateur) 73 70
146 Nikki Campbell 79 67, Hannah Jun (USA) 74 72
147 Stacey Keating 73 74
148 Lorie Kane (Canada) 74 74, Steph Na 76 72, Ashley Ona 78 70, Lindsey Wright 72 76.
149 Laura Davies (England) 72 77, Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) 76 73, Trish Johnson (England) 77 72, Su-Hyun Oh (amateur) 72 77
SELECTED TOTALS
152 Vikki Laing (Scotland) 76 76 (T18).
153 Felicity Johnson (England) 76 77 (T24)
154 Becky Brewerton (Wales) 79 75 (T28).
155 Hannah Burke (England) 77 78 (T32)
156 Beth Allen (USA) 79 77, Marianne Skarpnord (Norway) 78 78 (T35)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Visit www.golfvic.org.au for draws and all the latest news and tournament updates.
Follow all the tournament news and updates at www.facebook.com/GolfVictoria and on Twitter @VicOpenGolf and @Golf_Vic.
By: Sandy Lonergan (ALPG Media)
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 9:44:00 am
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