Ko on the verge of something special
BY Bruce Young | ALPG Tour | 2012 Women's NSW Open | Round Two | 28 Jan 2012
A simply stunning second round of 64 at the Bing Lee Samsung Women’s NSW Open at the Oatlands Golf Club’s layout in Sydney has the 14 year old New Zealander amateur, Lydia Ko, on the verge of her first win in a significant professional event.
If she is able to do so, she will become the youngest female to win a professional tournament on one of the five recognised women’s professional golf tours.
Ko’s round was almost without fault on an overcast but dry day. It started with a birdie, and then par, before another birdie on the par-4 3rd hole, followed by an eagle on the par-5 fourth. Ko, hit her second shot to 36-feet just in the fringe and holed her 9-iron chip.
“I was thinking (about) whether I should put it or chip or or use a nine iron to just roll it up there, said Ko “Ok, I’ve made birdies two out of the last three holes, so Ok let’s just have a nine iron". It was maybe a 12 metre chip. I chipped it and I was like “oh, it’s on a good line” and it went in and I was like “whoa”. I didn’t really expect it.”
Ko’s seven birdie, one eagle and one bogey round has given her a four shot lead over Albury Wodonga’s Lindsey Wright and by five over Frenchwomen Gwladys Nocera.
The event has provided a welcome return to form for Wright, one of this country’s leading female professionals over the last few years until a disappointing 2011.
West Australian Kristie Smith, Sydney’s Wendy Doolan and Korean Hae Rym Kim are the next best in a share of 4th position at 5 under and six shots from the lead.
Ko, the current Australian and New Zealand Amateur Champion, finished runner-up in this event to Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall twelve months ago. Although Hedwall is not here to defend her title this week, Ko has still had to overcome a strong field to put herself in the position she finds herself with one round to play.
Pre tournament favourite Melissa Reid is one of a large group at 4 under but, other than an unlikely third and final round Ko meltdown tomorrow, they appear almost out of winning contention.
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