Smith goes birdie hunting at Royal Pines

BY Anthony Powter | ALPG Tour | 2009 ANZ Ladies Masters | Round Two | 06 Feb 2009

West Australia’s Kristie Smith has built on her 1-over-par start from yesterday with a barrage of twelve birdies during the second round of the ANZ Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast.

Smith took full advantage of favourable morning conditions to move from her overnight position of 64th to have a one stroke lead at nine-under-par from fellow Australian, Katherine Hull, after the morning session.

Kristie Smith Audio Interview

It was a faultless display of golf around the Royal Pines layout by the 20-year-old.

Today’s round of 10-under-par, 62, equalled Karrie Webb’s course record in 2007 and is a career low for Smith with her previous best a 66, in a twist of fate around this same layout in 2005.

“The holes were the size of a bucket out there today,” said Smith.

“It’s an amazing round and gives you lots of confidence moving forward. I’ve good memories at Royal Pines and played well here a few years ago in the Aaron Baddeley Junior, so it’s all positive.”

In a round that equalled the ALPG and Ladies European Tour record for successive birdies with her stunning start, Smith’s only blemishes were bogeys on the eight and sixteenth holes. Four pars were also recorded on her card, the rest were otherwise in red.

“It was a pretty amazing start for me,” said Smith.

“I got on a roll with the putter. After making seven birdies in a row I just felt like I could keep it going out there today.”

Three years ago, Smith made the decision to concentrate on golf. Previously there had been other sporting distractions with Smith a Western Australian state Hockey player. A decision needed to be made as to which pursuit to follow. It’s a decision that ultimately would prove to be the right one.

In 2008, Smith stunningly announced her arrival on the Australian Women’s golfing scene, securing back to back Leading Amateur titles at both the MFS Women’s Australian Open and the LG/Bing Lee NSW Open, as well as winning the 2008 Australian Amateur title at Royal Adelaide.

Smith turn professional in July and played her first tournament at the Scandinavian TPC last August, after a personal invitation from Annika Sorenstam. Any disappointment with the 2008 LPGA Q-School, where Smith made it through to the fourth round only to miss the cut by three for the final round and a chance to gain playing privileges on the LPGA Tour, have now vanished.

That’s history and Smith only focuses on the positives and the future.

“I’m a very emotional player,” she says.

“I’m just learning to control my emotions and with that I’m improving. I’ve set high expectations having moved from the amateur ranks and it’s a huge step. My swing has come a long way and it’s all starting to come together. I feel this will be a good week for me.”

Queenslander Katherine Hull also started well with three birdies in her opening nine holes to finish at eight-under-par to be in outright second position. Findland’s Ursula Wikstrom and South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace are currently in tied third position at seven-under-par.

Karrie Webb has an afternoon tee time and dropped a shot on the second to be at 1-under-par and tied 39th position.