Aussies take control at Royal Pines

ALPG Tour | 2009 ANZ Ladies Masters | Round Two | 06 Feb 2009

A trio of talented Australians stole the show on day two of the ANZ Ladies Masters at Royal Pines Resort in Queensland, Australia, on Friday.

Nikki Campbell, who plies her trade on the Japanese LPGA Tour, took a one shot lead into the weekend on a 10-under total after adding a seven-under-par 65 to her opening 69.

On a day of low scoring, young Australian ALPG Tour rookie Kristie Smith equalled Karrie’s Webb’s course record from 2007 with a ten-under-par 62 to move to a total of nine-under-par.

The 2008 Canadian Women’s Open champion Katherine Hull finished the day in third place on eight-under-par after adding a 67 to her opening 69.

Campbell was flawless with seven birdies on her card, four of which were recorded over her first five holes. She chipped in for birdie on 12 but said her ball striking could have been better.

“This is probably going to sound funny but my ball striking the last few days hasn’t been as good as it has been before. The score doesn’t show it,” she said.

The Canberra based 28-year-old is aiming for her third victory in six years as a professional after winning the 2006 We Love Koby Suntory Ladies Open in Japan and the 2004/2005 ABC Learning Centres tournament on the ALPG Tour.

She commended Smith on her 10-under-par round which included 12 birdies and two bogeys. The Perth 20-year-old who turned professional in August is playing in her fourth event as a professional.

She birdied the first seven holes, which equalled the Ladies European Tour’s all-time record for consecutive birdies set by three other players; all this without the help of her father Wayne, a former tour professional, who caddied for his daughter at last year’s Women’s Australian Open, where she tied for fifth as an amateur. This time her proud dad was looking on from behind the ropes.

Smith led after the second round at Kingston Heath last year but has struggled with her putting in recent months. She has reaped the benefits of changing to a cross handed putting style in the last fortnight and said: “I’m pretty stoked with that round to be honest with you. My best round ever is 66 so I’ve just broken it by four shots, which is very nice.” Her previous best round of 66 was recorded on the same golf course, as a junior, in 2005.

For 26-year-old Queenslander Hull, a 67 that included six birdies and one bogey was simple. “The two greens that I missed I was putting anyway so nothing too complicated,” she said.

After a successful last year in America, Hull would love kick start her 2009 season with a win on home turf. “Growing up as a kid you dream about winning the ANZ Ladies Masters or Aussie Open; it’s just what you do. It’s a huge goal of mine this year to keep doing what I’m doing and be patient,” she said. “There is still room for improvement. I’ll be going back to practise this afternoon to try and get a bit better. I’ll be on the driving range and working on my short game. There is still work that needs to be done.”

After two warm and balmy days on the Gold Coast, Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom shared fourth place with first round co-leader Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa on seven-under-par. Norway’s Marianne Skapnord, who also shared a four-way tie for the first round lead finished the day tied for eighth on five-under-par, while Wales’ Becky Brewerton slipped to a 73 and shared 12th place. South Korean Il-Hee Lee dropped back to equal 20th place on three-under after a 74. Karrie Webb finished the day on one-under-par in a share of 39th place.

Source – LET