Miyazato extends lead at Ladies Masters
IN: News | ALPG | ANZ Ladies Masters (2005) | Round Two | 25 Feb 2005
Ai Miyazato from Japan extended her first round lead at the $800,000 ANZ Ladies Masters after tacking on a four under par 68 to her opening record-equalling 63 to reach 13-under par, four shots clear of Australian Nikki Campbell at Royal Pines Resort.
The 19-year-old sensation from Okinawa lobbed in five birdies and one bogey as she continues her quest for her first title outside of her homeland and should she win this week, she would be eligible to join the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour and receive an exemption for the rest of this season and a further three years, meaning she would be exempt for both the Evian Masters and Weetabix Women's British Open.
Miyazato played in the tricky afternoon conditions and began with a birdie at the opening hole, but gave it back at the par five third. But after four consecutive pars, the pint-sized prodigy extended her lead with birdies at the eighth and ninth to turn in 35.
Further birdies came at the 15th and 17th to put her in control of the event at the halfway stage.
"The wind was a lot harder today and it was much harder to control the ball," said Miyazato after her round.
"I'm very happy with my four under par today, very satisfied."
Campbell, who plays most of her professional golf in Japan, reached the turn in 33 thanks to a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth hole. The 24-year old Canadian born player from Canberra came home in level par as the wind picked up.
"I've started to putt well on the Queensland greens," said Campbell, who finished 32nd on the order of merit in Japan last season.
"I used to feel a bit daunted playing golf with some of the bigger names in women's golf, but I'm beginning to feel a bit more comfortable with it now. Anytime my name is on the leaderboard, it gives me confidence and I'm going to go out over the weekend and try and feel comfortable."
But with all the hype this week about the Japanese Wunderkind Miyazato, another teenager appeared on the radar as she equalled yesterday's course record with a 63 of her own in round two.
Tiffany Joh, an 18-year-old amateur from the San Diego in the USA continued the teenage invasion of women's golf her at Royal Pines as she carded the best round of her life which consisted of six birdies and an albatross at the par five ninth, her final hole.
Joh sits in a tie with Sweden's Maria Hjorth who came in late in the afternoon with a seven under par 65 to share third spot on eight under par. Hjorth birdied the three of the final four holes of her round to jump up two places
Joh, a High School student at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego reached eight under par for 36 holes and is a shot clear of six players including Swedes Linda Wessberg, Maria Hjorth and Cecilia Ekelundh, Rachel Hetherington from Australia, Elisabeth Esterl from Germany and Veronica Zorzi from Italy who carded an eight under par 64 to jump right into contention for her maiden victory.
"I've never had an albatross before," said Joh.
"I actually thought it went into the bunker at the back of the green but people were clapping, so maybe it didn't go into the bunker. I guess it turned out OK. I had 213-yards to the pin and I hit a five wood – it was downwind.
"The green was elevated and the pin was back left, so I couldn't see it land at all. I had no idea until I went up and checked it and then I was in shock, so I just picked up and walked around the green like a zombie!"
Rounding out the top ten, four players share 10th spot on six under par including Sweden's Asa Gottmo and Australian's Tamie Durdin, Shani Waugh and four times ANZ Ladies Masters Champion Karrie Webb.
The cut fell at one over par with 73 players making the final two rounds.
Source - LET
