Aussie-Scot Karis shines in South Korea fog

  AUSTRALIAN GOLF NEWS RELEASE
When the going got foggy, the Australian women got going.
Three special rounds in less than quality conditions today propelled the young national team back into the Queen Sirikit Cup mix on a bleak spring day in South Korea.
A heavy fog cost more than three hours of play to be lost at Ora Country Club on Jeju Island, but it didn’t diminish three great efforts by the Australian women.
With visibility severely hampered, first-time Aussie team representative Robyn Choi showed she has international grit beyond her years with a superb two-under-par round of 70.
Not to be shown up by her fellow Gold Coaster, Innerleithen-born Scot Karis Davidson poured in a birdie putt on the last hole to sign for her own impressive 71.
Both rounds, in occasionally heavy rain, were even more impressive, given they came after rounds of 83 and 77, respectively, in yesterday’s first of three rounds of the Asian women’s teams championship.
Perth’s Hannah Green remained in contention for the individual title with a 72 after her opening 73, but so impressive were her teammates that her score didn’t count to Australia’s day two total.
Australian coach Virginia Irwin was chuffed with her team’s scores, but even more so by their efforts and resilience.
“I was really impressed by the team’s commitment to their game plan today in challenging conditions,” Irwin said.
“There was steady rain and fog for the first 12 holes but the team handled the three-hour delay extremely well.
“On the restart they walked back out on course with purpose and composure.
“Their levels of trust on course was terrific to watch.”
The all-conquering Korean team, however, effectively wrapped up the team title with some spectacular rounds of their own.
Hye-jin Choi assumed individual leadership with a marvellous 65 to vault to eight under, two clear of first-round leader and teammate Hyun-kyung Park, whose 69 left her six under.
Their teammate Gayoung Lee also fired a 69 to sit tied fourth overall at even par, remarkably the only three round’s better than the Australian Choi’s 70.
The South Korean team is now -14 overall, a runaway 14-shot leader from an otherwise bunched field. The Philippines is second at even par, New Zealand third at two over and Australia now up to tied fourth at three over alongside Taiwan.
Green is tied sixth overall at one over, with Davidson T15 at four over and Choi the big mover at T25 at nine over.
The third and final round will be played tomorrow.