Choi, Kim claim foursomes at NZ Womens Amateur
IN: News | New Zealand Womens Amateur | New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship (2004) | Round One | 06 Dec 2004
Teenage golfers Sally Choi and Mi Kyung Kim upset internationals Sarah Nicholson and Penny Newbrook to claim the foursomes title at the Lion Foundation New Zealand Amateur in Wanganui today.
Choi, a 16-year-old from Taranaki, and Kim, a 15-year-old from North Harbour, shot a two-under par total of 144 to claim the honours on the opening day of the amateur championships at Wanganui Golf Club, Belmont.
The youngsters finished one shot clear of New Zealand representatives Nicholson (Wellington) and Newbrook (Bay of Plenty) in the 36-hole foursomes contest in excellent conditions after heavy rain over the weekend.
"We really enjoyed it today. I did well with my driver and My Kyung was really good around the greens so we combined well," Choi said.
"I enjoyed the course a lot and I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament."
Choi and Kim are part of the new wave of talented young players, both representing their provinces at the Lion Foundation Interprovincials in October. They mixed five birdies with four bogies in the morning one-under par 72, and three birdies with two late bogies for the same score in the afternoon.
Newbrook and Nicholson, who along with US-based Claire Dury finished ninth for New Zealand at the recent Espirito Santo world teams championship, had a one shot lead after the morning found. They mixed four birdies with four bogies and a brilliant eagle at the par-5 13th for their first round two-under par 71.
They were cruising to a likely win at two-under par with four holes remaining before a double bogey at the 15th and bogey at the 16th saw the pair drop to a one-over par 74 to finish with a total of 145, one-under par at the par-73 Belmont course.
The two pairings cleared out from the rest of the field, with New Zealand Titleist Academy players Tammy Clelland (Bay of Plenty) and Natasha Krishna (Auckland) finishing third with a 36-hole total of 155, nine over par, and 11 shots behind the winners.
A talented field of 55 players, including four from Australia, complete 36-holes strokeplay qualifying tomorrow with the top 32 players moving on to contest matchplay for the amateur championship. There are two rounds matchplay on on Wednesday, quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday with 36-hole final on Friday.
Source - NZGA
