Tseng too good at Australian Open
BY Bruce Young | ALPG Tour | 2011 Women's Australian Open | Wrap | 07 Feb 2011
Yani Tseng took a three shot lead into round four of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and five hours later emerged the winner by seven. It was yet another convincing and impressive performance by the defending champion who added a final round of 71 in blustery conditions to win over Jiyai Shin, Melissa Reid and Eun Hee Ji.
Tseng recorded only two bogeys during her 72 holes on the quality Commonwealth Golf Club layout and her winning total of 16 under (276) was some seven shots better than that recorded in her three shot victory last year.
On a day when only two players would break 70, Tseng handled the demanding conditions in her usual aggressive style and an outward nine of 34 had her ahead by five. Shin closed the gap to four with a birdie at the 13th but with consecutive bogeys at the 14th and 15th it was all but over.
Nearly an hour ahead of the final group 23 year old Englishwoman Reid was putting together the equal best round of the day (68). She moved into a share of third before Shin began to drop her shots and eventually shared the runner-up position with Shin and Ji.
Reid produced a massive total of 23 birdies during the tournament, by far the best of anyone and takes significant momentum into next week’s ANZ ladies Masters.
Joint first round leader, Jennifer Song finished with a solid round of 71 to be at 7 under and alone in 5th position.
Katherine Hull and Karrie Webb tied as the leading Australians in 7th position, Webb finally getting some rust out of her game with a final round of 70 which sets her up nicely for her attempt to win the ANZ Ladies Masters for the 8th occasion next week.
Now it is on to the RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast for this coming week’s ANZ Ladies Masters where most who played this week will tee it up again. The one notable exception is the world number one Jiyai Shin who will play next in an LPGA Tour event in Thailand the following week.
