Miyazato caught in Karrie's Webb at Royal Pines
IN: News | ALPG | ANZ Ladies Masters (2005) | Wrap | 27 Feb 2005
Karrie Webb from Australia served up notice that she is revisiting her finest form by winning her fifth ANZ Ladies Masters title at Royal Pines Resort after a thrilling five under par 67 saw her finish one shot ahead of 19-year Japanese phenomenon Ai Miyazato on Australia's Gold Coast.
Webb won on 16-under par 272 and after winning this event four times in a row from 1998-2001, she can now add her name to the legendary Peter Thomson as the only other Australian to win the same event five times. Thomson won The Open Championship five times in his career.
Webb, who began the final day four shots behind the teenager heading into the final round, knew she had it all to do on Sunday.
The 30-year-old from Ayr in Northern Queensland began in form reminiscent of her days as World number one with a par at the opening hole, a birdie, an eagle after chipping in from 25-yards and another birdie to reel in the Wunderkind and draw level after four holes.
Miyazato birdied the sixth to move one clear again, but a dropped shot at the eighth levelled the scores once more. Both birdied the par five ninth, but the key moment in the round was when Webb rifled a six iron at flag on the 13th and dispatched the resulting eight footer.
When Miyazato three-putted the par three 14th, Webb held a two shot lead. Only a bogey at the final hole prevented Webb from posting the lowest round of the day, but it was clear to see the Australian number one was back at her best.
"It's very satisfying," said Webb who won the $Aus120,000 first prize.
"I guess that after the way Ai started this week and by Friday I was seven shots behind, that was a big haul to get back.
"Today I got off to a really hot start and eliminated four shots in the first four holes and that made it a ball game then.
"I feel very lucky that I've got on up on Ai already because she is already a star and she's got huge future ahead of her now."
Now Webb is looking forward to returning to her best for on the LPGA and head over to Mexico next week for her first LPGA event.
"Winning this week really helps my confidence and to see some of the shots I hit under pressure, I feel really good about that. I was looking forward to the year before this week and I like where my game is right now and I hope I can take it back over to the States."
Miyazato was still bubbly even in defeat and having played with her for three of the four rounds, admitted that she learned from the way Webb played.
"I didn't feel any pressure after the first four holes and I even got ahead again," said Miyazato.
"But Karrie really played well today and I didn't make the putts.
"I learned today that you need to play better golf in the final round and sometimes I was too aggressive with my putter and I missed putts because of that."
Sharing third place on 12-under par were Italian Veronica Zorzi, who had a 70, and Sweden's Maria Hjorth who had a 69.
Nikki Campbell from Canberra closed out at 11-under par for sole fifth place, while Sweden's Linda Wessberg took sixth spot outright on 10-under par.
Rounding out the top ten were four players who shared seventh place on nine under par; Chuan Hsiao Lu from Taiwan who had a 67, Australia's Shani Waugh, Iben Tinning from Denmark and Cecilia Ekelundh fro Sweden who played alongside Webb and Miyazato in the final group, but struggled to a 75.
Source - LET
