American D'Alessio leads NZ Open

BY Liz White | ALPG Tour | 2010 New Zealand Women's Open | Round Two | 26 Feb 2010

American Diana D’Alessio will take a one shot lead over Sydney’s Sarah Kemp into tomorrow’s third round of the Pegasus New Zealand Open.

D’Alessio was able to back up yesterday’s opening round 5 under 67 with another solid 4 under 68 today to be 9 under for the tournament.

It’s been a long time since the American has been on the leader board and she admits she is working hard to keep the expectations down.

“I haven’t been in this position for a while and you kind of have to get there in order to keep yourself calm and keep your emotions in check,” she said.

“For the most part I did a pretty good job of that, "

Second-placed Sarah Kemp also did well to keep her round under control, especially after a bogey, bogey start.

“I missed a four footer on ten, which was my first hole, and then I hit a terrible shot on 11, and then I missed another four footer for birdie on 13,” she said.

“But then it started to come back together after I holed a long putt for birdie on 14.”

It was that putt that got Kemp’s round going, ultimately finishing with an impressive 5 under 67 to be 8 under for the tournament at the halfway mark.

“It’s like that kicks up my confidence, once I hole an unexpected putt that gets me back in it, and then I birdied 14, 15, 17, 18.”

D’Alessio’s play on Christchurch’s new Pegasus Golf and Sports Club course has been so solid she went 30 holes without a bogey, a phenomenal effort considering the winds have kept changing throughout the round.

“I was actually amazed because on this golf course, you are going to drop shots, this is a hard golf course,” she said.

It was on the par 4 13th where D’Alessio’s self declared “hiccup” ruined her bogey free tournament. She doubled the hole after blocking her tee shot into the hazard.

“It is just a crazy game, you have one bad thought and it just snowballs,” she said.

“On the tee on 13 it was: ’don’t snap hook it,’ so I blocked it instead.”

The double clearly rattled the 35-year-old who then proceeded to 3-putt from 25 feet on the par 3 14th.

It was then that D’Alessio did what she rarely does – check the leader board. It was just as well, because she discovered she was still in contention.

“I am not sure if leader board watching is good for me or not, but at that time it was, because it kind of motivated me to get the train going again.”

The American hit back with a stunning birdie putt on the tricky par 5 16th and a brilliant up and down from the greenside bunker on 18, to end with another birdie.

“I was definitely happy with the way I finished,” she said.

First round leader, Marianne Skarpnord couldn’t repeat her course record form of yesterday but despite a one over 73 today, is still in the hunt, just three shots off the lead on 6 under.

Joining Skarpnord is South African Ashleigh Simon who carded a 2 under 70 today.

“I have been very happy with the way I have been playing,” she said.

“I changed coaches at the beginning of the year and it seems to be paying off.”

20-year-old Simon was an outstanding amateur but has not been able to make many inroads on the professional circuit. She endured a frustrating 2009 where she spent a lot of it injured.

“But with the changes to my swing it has really helped with that as well. I am 100 percent now so it is really good.”

Just like yesterday, Simon and D’Alessio had all the luck with the wind. It was moderate at worst but for the afternoon groups the nor easter came in, dropping the temperature considerably and sometimes making a two club difference.

“We played the back nine first and the back nine is trickier than the front, so we got lucky playing that first,” Simon said.

Canadian Lorie Kane, inspired by her country’s ice hockey win over Russia at the Olympics, fired the round of the day, a 6 under 66 and is now well-placed in outright fifth.

One of the tournament’s marquee groups of Laura Davies, Sarah Oh and Kristie Smith struggled in the afternoon winds.

Smith slipped back to even for the tournament after a 4 over 76 today, while Sarah Oh had an even par round to be tied in 20th position on one under. Davies fared slightly better with a one under 71 and is not out of it, tied 6th with Austria’s Stefanie Michl.

Sydney’s Kemp is looking forward to her third round tomorrow and revealed her secret to today’s round – a bet with her roommate and playing partner, Kiwi Sarah Nicholson.

“The loser has to go around the chipping green and do the chicken dance, it is a bit insane but that is probably the reason for my being relaxed out there today,” she laughed.

One can only imagine – or fear – what tomorrow’s bet is.