SOUTH KOREAN WINS AUSSIE WOMEN'S OPEN

Ha Na Jang

FROM AUSTRALIAN LADIES PRO GOLF
World No. 6 Ha Na Jang of South Korea blew away the red hot field to win the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open at Royal Adelaide Golf Club today (Sunday).
Jang, 24, conjured a remarkable finishing stretch and iced her cake with an eagle from long range at the 17th, then a brilliant birdie at the 18th to finish at 10-under par 282 over the par-73 course.
Her round of 69, four-under, equalled the low round of the day but given that it was done in the toughest of the conditions, with gusty winds, it was a heroic performance by the South Korean and it crushed the hopes of everyone around her.
Not even overnight leader Lizette Salas of the United States, nor Australia's great hope Su Oh, also playing in the final group, could stave her off, and Jang posted her score and waited for the others to limp in.
The smiling Jang is immensely popular with the crowds, always so willing to engage, and she is a great winner of the Australian national championship. Her back nine of 31 to a par of 36 will go into the annals, a piece of sporting genius with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 18th holes as well as the eagle at 17 when she launched into her characteristic celebration.
She won by a shot from Denmark's Nanna Madsen, who closed with an even-par 73 and finished at seven-under having gained entry into the tournament by pre-qualifying at The Grange Golf Club on Tuesday.
Australia's Minjee Lee rattled home with a 70 to leap up to a tie for third with compatriot Sarah Jane Smith, Thailand's world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn and the defending champion Japan's Haru Nomura, while rookie Hannah Green continued to impress finishing in a tied for 7th place.
Victorian Su Oh had a disappointing final round, carding a 77 to tie 14th, while American Lizette Salas, who had led by as many as three shots as she walked up the 11th hole today, fell away badly to record a 78 and finish tied-seventh.
Scots Michele Thomson and Gemma Dryburgh faded over the final two rounds when the conditions became a bit tougher.
Michele closed with rounds of 81 and 75 for 298 and a T64 placing.
Gemma's weekend rounds were 80 and 77 for 299 and a T66 finish alongside Charley Hull.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 292 (4x73)
282 Ha Na Jang (SKor) 70 73 70 69.
285 Nanna Madsen (Den) 73 68 71 73
286 Minjee Lee (Aus) 72 70 71 70, Haru Komura (Jap) 75 69 69 73, Ariya Jutanugarn (Thai) 72 72 71 71, Sarah-Jane Smith (Aus) 70 67 74 75

SELECTED TOTALS
287 Lizette Salas (USA) 68 70 71 78, Beth Allen (USA) 71 71 75 70 (T7).
290 Amy Boulden (Wales) 72 68 74 76 (T21).
291 Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Eng) 70 71 78 72 (T24)
291 Michelle Wie (USA) 70 71 76 75 (T30).
298 Michele Thomson (Sco) 68 74 81 75 (T64).
299 Gemma Dryburgh (Sco) 73 69 80 77, Charley Hull (Eng) 72 74 75 78 (T66)

Scores | ISPS HANDA Women's Australian Open Golf