Australian fires hot round to lead in NZ Womens qualifiers
IN: News | New Zealand Womens Amateur | New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship (2003) | General | 11 Nov 2003
Australian champion Katy Jarochowicz fired a six-under par 66 to lead qualifiers for Lion Foundation women's amateur golf championships at Mount Maunganui today.
The 20-year-old Australian, who shot a two-under 70 this morning, finished with 36 hole tally of eight-under par 136 to be one shot ahead of fellow Australian Sarah Kemp.
The internationals cream rose to the top, with eight of the top 10 qualifiers for the matchplay involved in last week's Commonwealth Tournament in Auckland.
The leading New Zealander is Wellington 18-year-old Sarah Nicholson, who followed her morning two-over 74 with a strong four-under 68 in the afternoon. Her tally of two-under par 142 was one shot ahead of her Kiwi team-mate Enu Chung (Auckland) and outstanding Australian Sarah-Jane Kenyon.
A shot further back is Rotorua's Penny Newbrook on even-par 144, with one shot to compatriot Stacey Tate (North Harbour) and a further shot to a trio of Heidi McCulkin (Australia), Ashleigh Simon (South Africa) and Kyla Welsh (Otago) who rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.
Jarochowicz, who missed out on a place in the Australian team for last week's Commonwealth Tournament, was in scintillating form in windy conditions at the links course at Mount Maunganui Golf club this afternoon.
Two-under par at the turn, the New South Wales player reeled off four birdies on the trot on the way to her outstanding afternoon round to head qualifiers. Her morning round also had some highlights with three birdies, three bogeys and superb eagle at the par-5 12th.
Kemp, the outstanding individual at last weekend's winning Australian team in Auckland, was all class, following the morning three-under 69 with 68 in the afternoon. The 17-year-old Australian strokeplay champion made 11 birdies today, tempered with four bogies to continue her fine form.
Nicholson, who stepped up with some outstanding play at No 1 at the Commonwealth Tournament, showed the benefit of that experience this afternoon. Following a ho-hum morning round of two-over 74, Nicholson produced strong form in difficult windy conditions in the afternoon. She turned three-under par and pushed to five-under before dropping a shot on the 17th into the biting breeze.
Kiwi international Newbrook, carrying the local Bay of Plenty supporters, had a day of liquorice allsorts. The Rotorua player finished high in the qualifiers with even-par 144, mixing plenty of firepower with eight birdies along with six bogeys and a double bogey.
Chung and Welch were more impressive in the morning with solid one-under par rounds, mixing three birdies and two bogeys, as did 12-year-old Whangarei player Heiji Kang, the youngest player at the tournament. Kang could not repeat her morning heroics, dropping to a nine-over 81 in the afternoon.
A record number of 21 internationals entered the 100th women's amateur championships, with the only significant visitors to miss out on the top flight included South Africans Esme Behrens and Tanica Van As.
The leading 32 players begin matchplay tomorrow with two rounds tomorrow, quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday and 36-hole final on Friday.
