New Zealand representatives Sarah Nicholson (Wellington) and Jenny Park (Otago) will clash in tomorrow's final of the Lion Foundation Women's Amateur Championship in Wanganui.

Nicholson withstood a torrid battle with 13-year-old Haeji Kang (Whangarei) to win 1-up, while Park outlasted Espirito Santo representative Penny Newbrook 2-up.

It was the first time that any of the quartet had qualified for the semifinals at the amateur championship, played in fierce westerlies that proved a demanding test on the coastal Belmont course.

After New Zealand's leading pair of Nicholson and Newbrook ousted Hester Wallace(Arrowtown) and leading Australian Nikki Garrett respectively in the morning quarterfinals, they may have felt that the afternoon semifinals would not be so demanding. However Park, who accounted for Taranaki's Sally Choi in her quarterfinal, and Kang, impressive victor over Bobae Kim (North Shore), had other ideas.

With the winds gusting in excess of 100kmh at exposed parts of the course, the quartet produced some impressive golf, although putting proved a real test.

Newbrook, 20, was even with the card at the turn, holding a 1-up advantage over Park. However the Rotorua player struggled on the greens coming home, and missed excellent chances on the greens at the 14th, 16th and 17th, dropping five shots in the process.

Park won the 10th and 12th holes, before losing the 13th and getting out of jail when Newbrook three-putted the 16th. The Otago player made a splendid birdie at the par-4 17th, when Newbrook missed from similar distance, and parred the last to register an impressive result.

The 17-year-old Park made her New Zealand debut in the five-strong squad for the Commonwealth Tournament in Auckland last December. Her performances this week will strengthen her case for selection in the next five-person team for the Tasman Cup in Auckland next March.

While Newbrook will be disappointed, she will be comforted by her excellent performance in beating last year's beaten finalist and fourth ranked Australian, Garrett in the quarterfinal.

Newbrook bounced back from 1-down after 13 holes to win two in a row with pars into the teeth of the fierce winds, and parred in to hold her advantage.

Nicholson had a real fight on her hands against the Whangarei Girls High School student, Kang who held a one-hole advantage after 15 holes in the other semifinal. Nicholson showed her experience with an excellent par on the tough 16th to square the match, and went ahead for the first time since the opening hole with another clutch par at the 17th. Both players pulled their drives into the rough but Kang was only able to advance her ball a few metres from the troublesome rough, while Nicholson was able to attack the green.

Kang saw her eagle opportunity slide by on the final green, with Nicholson making a key 2m birdie putt to seal the match.

Earlier Park was two-over par in easily accounting for Taranaki's Sally Choi 6 and 5, with the Commonwealth Tournament representative 4-up after five holes.

Nicholson produced a superb effort to beat Arrowtown's Hester Wallace 3 and 2. The Wellington player was all square after nine holes despite being one-under par before reeling off four holes in a row to be 4-up after 13 holes. Wallace fought back to claim two holes before the New Zealand representative closed out the match on the 16th.

Kang, the Northland representative, produced a remarkable comeback in her match against the more experienced Bobae Kim (North Harbour). The 13-year-old was 3-down after six holes but won six in seven holes to shut out the match 3 and 2 and move into her first amateur semifinal.

Meanwhile Robyn Boniface (Southland) meets Karen Quinn (Australia) in one semifinal of the championship plate, while Mi Kyung Kim (Pupuke) plays Jackie Shin (Rotorua) in the other semifinal.

The Waddell Rosebowl final will be between Rochelle Keegan ((Westown) against Grace Jeong (Russley), while the Flight final features Sue Aitken (North Shore) against Lydia Redpath (Manor Park), who scored a hole-in-one at the par-3 10th on the way to her semifinal victory.

Championship Quarterfinals
Jenny Park (Otago) bt Sally Choi (New Plymouth) 6 and 5, Penny Newbrook (Springfield) bt Nikki Garrett (Australia) 1up, Sarah Nicholson (Hutt) bt Hester Wallace (Arrowtown) 3 and 2, Haeji Kang (Whangarei) bt Bobae Kim (Pupuke) 3 and 2. Semifinals: Park bt Newbrook 2up, Nicholson bt Kang 1up.

Plate Quarterfinals
Robyn Boniface (Southland) bt Robyn Scott North shore) 1up, Karen Quinn (Australia) bt jenna Hirst (Pupuke) 1up, Mi Kyung Kim (Pupuke) bt Tammy Clelland (Taupo) 3 and 2, Jackie Shin (Rotorua) bt Heather Warren (Australia) 3 and 2.

Waddell Rosebowl Semifinals
Eleanor Hodson (New Plymouth) bt Hee Seo (Springfield) 4 and 2, Rochelle Keegan (Westown) bt Chantelle Webb (Muriwai) 2 and 1, Grace jeong (Russley) bt Kerry Cho (Springrfield) at the 19th, Zoe Beth Brake (Kawerau) bt Louise Stephens (Taieri) 3 and 2. Semifinals: Keegan bt Hodson at the 19th, Jeong bt Brake 1up.

Source - NZGA

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