It's the Old vs the New at NZ Open

BY Liz White | ALPG Tour | 2010 New Zealand Women's Open | Round Three | 27 Feb 2010

The Pegasus New Zealand Open is set for an exciting finish tomorrow with 24-year-old Sarah Kemp facing off against tour veteran, 46-year-old Laura Davies.

It’s the first time Kemp has gone into the final round as the leader and she feels she is up for the challenge.

“It is my goal being in the last group because that means I am going to be in contention,” she said.

“I look forward to these kind of moments and I am really excited for tomorrow.”

Kemp had a 2 over 74 in gale force winds today to be on 6 under for the tournament, one shot ahead of Davies, with Wales’ Becky Brewerton a shot further back on 4 under.

Davies showed her experience on Christchurch’s Pegasus layout today and simply just “hung in there” in the 40-knott Canterbury nor’easter.

“We knew how hard it was for us and I was swinging it pretty well to be honest,’” she said.

“We just thought keep making your pars if you can, because you couldn’t always make par, it was really tough.

“You never know what is going to happen, all of a sudden we might be in with a good chance tomorrow.”

Davies is certainly in with a good chance but Kemp, despite her relative inexperience, will be no pushover.

Playing in the final group today, Kemp got the worst of the conditions and did well to tough it out while her playing partners faltered.

American Diana D’Alessio, who started the day in the lead on 9 under, had a disastrous back nine doubling two holes and bogeying a further three to plummet down the leader board to tied 8th.

Fellow playing partner, South African, Ashleigh Simon, slipped to even par and equal 21st after starting the day in 3rd position.

Kemp said she found it difficult to just play her own game.

“It is not easy when your playing partners are also struggling. I was just one of the pack we were all doing it together … it was pretty rough out there,” she said.

Kemp admitted she also got distracted by the wind constantly moving her ball while she was teeing off and putting.

“I would be standing over the ball and it started to shake and you know you don’t want to ground the club and I was changing my routine because of that and I shouldn’t have done it,” she said.

“I should have just stayed and kept my routine the same, even though the wind was hurting us all.”

The wind was such a factor today that only 16 of the 67 competitors shot sub par.

Davies, who carded a 1 under 71 today is hoping for better conditions tomorrow.

“If it is windy like this again it is going to be no fun,” she said.

“It is not going to be the best golfer who wins, it’s going to be who is a bit lucky and holes a good few putts.”

Joining Kemp and Davies in the final grouping tomorrow is Becky Brewerton.

The 28-year-old won on the Ladies European Tour last year and finished 3rd in the Henderson Money List. Brewerton shot a 1 under 71 today and has crept up the leader board after an even par 72 start. Many see her as a real contender for the title.

Davies believes the winner will be the one who handles the treacherous back nine the best.

It starts on the cross your fingers corner where the tee shots on the adjacent 12 and 13th holes drift toward the water when the wind blows.

Surviving those holes will be crucial to set the player up for the run home.

“It’s that little finishing ring, 15 sort of driveable par 4, 16, 17, 18 they are going to be massively pivotal because you can birdie all four or you can double bogey all four,” Davies said.

“I want to go out and have some fun and play in nice conditions. We have played it for three days in really strong winds and I am sick of it.”

Despite her 2 over round today, Kemp has her mind set for a solid finish tomorrow and hopefully her first big win on the Australasian Tour.

“I will forget about today no worries,” she said.

“I will do some putting and hear the ball go in the hole and I’ll be right. I will wipe all of this and just focus on having a good score tomorrow.”