Smith breaks through for first pro win

BY Liz White | ALPG Tour | 2010 Royal Canberra Classic | Round Three | 31 Jan 2010

Kristie Smith has confirmed her status as Australia’s next big thing with a blistering final round 9 under 64 to take her first professional title, the Actew AGL Royal Canberra Ladies Classic today.

The big hitting bomber from Western Australia was just too classy for the rest of the field, securing an eagle and seven birdies in her bogey free round to defeat world number 35 Katherine Hull by two shots.

Smith ended the tournament on a three round total of 16 under 203 with Hull carding a three under 70 today to finish on 14 under 205.

“It was ridiculous,” was Smith’s assessment of her day where she started four shots behind second round leader Katherine Hull.

“I just got off to a really good start after the third hole and sort of had that feeling like I had when I shot that 62 at last year at the ANZ Ladies Masters.

“I knew I could do it because I have done it before. I guess I have always known I can make a lot of birdies out there and as soon as I get on a roll, I get hotter and hotter.

“When you’re in the zone you are in the zone, that’s for sure,” she laughed.

It was Smith’s first win since she turned professional in late 2008.

“It’s massive,” she said.

“It’s a huge confidence booster. My goal this week was just to finish top ten and to come away with a win is unbelievable I can’t even describe it, I am pretty lost for words.”

Smith beat home a quality field at the $125,000 tournament with LPGA players, Sarah Jane Smith, Lindsey Wright and Sarah Kemp rounding out the top five.

Just under two years ago Smith, the daughter of former touring pro Wayne, was Australia’s leading amateur but her game has always been destined for the professional ranks.

In 2009 she headed to the US where she played on the secondary LPGA tour, the Duramed Futures. It was a frustrating time early for Smith, who was unable to compete at her best due to a painful rib muscle injury.  She was also the victim of a bizarre ruling where she was banned for competing in three of the Duramed Tournaments because she had withdrawn mid round from previous events due to the injury.

The rule in question stated that any player not scoring better than 87 or not completing their first round in any two events in a season may be suspended from the next three events.

Smith showed her toughness by bouncing back from the adversity and recorded a second at the ING New England Golf Classic in July and a tie for 10th at the season ending I Love New York Championship at Albany New York.

“The Duramed has been a huge help to just be able to be out there competing against some of the best players in America,” she said.

“But the big turning point for me was European Q school. To get my card and finish second there was a massive confidence booster coming into this summer.”

Smith puts her result today down to a much stronger mental game.

“I have worked really hard on that especially when I had time off because I was injured,” she said.

She has also spent a lot of solid coaching time with Ian Triggs after Christmas.

“We worked on a mental machine as well where you are doing your pre shot routine and trying to see the ball and visualise it,” she said.

“We picked out a spot in my routine which I was struggling with and we have been able to put a pin on that and figure out exactly where I have been going wrong with my routine.

“It’s been a huge few weeks for sure but to have it pay off today is massive.”

Smith said shooting a low 62 at last year’s ANZ Ladies Masters helped convince her she had the game.

“I know I can make a lot of birdies. I am probably one of the girls out there who can birdie every hole out there, that is how I like to look at it,” she said.

“After that 62 last year at the ANZ after telling myself ’Oh I can’t shoot low, I can’t shoot low,’ and then I went and did that was great.

“But it is also the consistency of my results. It has just been a massive confidence booster and then to do it again today in the final round and to win it’s just even better.”

After her win today Smith admitted she has to readjust her game plan for 2010.

“The goal was to win a tournament whether it was this one or one of the big ones in Australia and I have done that so I am going to have to probably reset my goals,” she said.

“The goal is to win on the European Tour and one in the States would be nice as well and then just to keep my card in Europe and get my LPGA card for next year.”

With such enormous talent and self-belief, it is only just a matter of time before we see Smith teeing it up on the world’s richest and toughest golfing stage.