Wright finally breaks through at NZ Open

BY Bruce Young | ALPG Tour | 2012 New Zealand Women's Open | Wrap | 19 Feb 2012

Experienced Australian golfer, Lindsey Wright, has today won her first event in nearly eight years, a birdie at the final hole of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open in Christchurch enough to get her home as a one shot winner over fellow Australian Jessica Speechley and American Alison Walshe.

Canadian Lorie Kane finished 4th along with South Australian Stephanie Na.

With both Walshe and Speechley were already in the clubhouse at 9 under as Wright, needing a birdie to win outright in regulation time, holed from 15 feet to take the title.

The victory offers Wright the option of playing the Ladies European Tour should she so choose although she does also enjoy status on the LPGA Tour.

The 32 year old from Albury in Victoria enjoyed a stellar amateur career which included being a finalist at the British Amateur and a Semi Finalist at the US Amateur. Wright also finished runner-up in the individual at the Espirito Santo Trophy in Malaysia in 2002.

After two wins on the Futures Tour in 2004, Wright made it to the LPGA Tour in 2005 but although she has played well and has won US$2.2 million in her career since, this was her first victory since the Bank of Ann Arbor Classic in June of 2004.

In the meantime however Wright has accumulated a lot of good finishes in tournament golf including three top five finishes in major championships.

Speechley’s final round of 65 was completed an hour before Wright finished her tournament after play on day three had been delayed due to heavy overnight and early morning rain at the Pegasus Golf Course north of the city.

The West Australian raced to the turn today in a an amazing 29 shots. At that point had the lead over Wright who bogeyed her opening hole but recovered before the turn to be out in 32 and at 10 under she led.

A double at the 13th by Wright threatened to derail her chances but she birdied the 14th and 18th and took the title.

“It’s unbelievable," said Wright. "It’s still sinking in. I putted really well all day and the last six holes I was really nervous. I haven’t been in this position for a while and I thought to myself ‘I can win this.’

“I looked at the leaderboard and saw Alison Walshe up there and Speechley at nine-under and thought ‘no I can make this putt. Just keep your head down, just hit a great putt.’"

Speechley, who only turned professional in December, missed the cut at last week’s Australian Open but did do well earlier in the year when 6th at the Victorian Open. Speechley was one of Australia’s best amateurs before turning professional.

Walshe is a former Curtis Cup player who turned professional three years ago and to date has had little success in the paid ranks. This might well be just the sort of finish she needs to boost her career.

Cecilia Cho finished as the leading amateur ahead of 14 year old Lydia Ko who shared the lead into the final round but was unable to continue what has been a remarkable run for her.

Final scores from the ISPS Handa NZ Open hosted by Christchurch, Pegasus GC, par 72, (Am denotes Amateur):

206 Lindsey Wright (AUS) 70 68 68
207 Jessica Speechley (AUS) 69 73 65, Alison Walshe (USA) 68 70 69
208 Lorie Kane (Canada) 72 67 69, Stephanie Na (AUS) 70 69 69
209 Beth Allen (USA) 70 71 68, Danielle Kang (USA) 68 72 69
210 Rachel Jennings (ENG) 72 70 68, Kris Tamulis (USA) 70 71 69, Gerina Piller (USA) 68 71 71, Haeji Kang (KOR) 69 69 72
211 Cecilia Cho (Am, NZL) 70 72 69, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 70 72 69, Sarah Oh (AUS) 69 72 70, Cara Freeman (USA) 70 70 71, Carlota Ciganda (Spain) 69 69 73
212 Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 73 73 66, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 73 69, Lydia Ko (Am, NZL) 69 69 74, Mariajo Uribe (COL) 70 68 74
213 Kristie Smith (AUS) 71 72 70, Bree Arthur (AUS) 74 69 70, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 68 75 70, Amelia Lewis (USA) 68 74 71
214 Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 72 72 70, Sarah-Jane Smith (AUS) 71 70 73, Julia Boland (AUS) 71 68 75
215 Kym Larratt (ENG) 67 77 71, Sydnee Michaels (USA) 73 70 72, Frances Bondad (AUS) 72 71 72, Joanna Klatten (FRA) 67 75 73, Cindy Lacrosse (USA) 72 67 76
216 Hannah Yun (USA) 68 76 72, Laura Diaz (USA) 71 73 72, Meredith Duncan (USA) 70 74 72, Irene Cho (USA) 71 72 73
217 Danah Bordner (USA) 72 75 70, Sara Brown (USA) 70 75 72, Mo Martin (USA) 76 67 74, Alison Whitaker (Am, AUS) 74 68 75
218 Valentine Derrey (FRA) 76 71 71, Caroline Bon (NZL) 73 73 72, Cathryn Bristow (NZL) 72 73 73, Sarah Kemp (AUS) 73 72 73
219 Karen Lunn (AUS) 73 72 74, Vikki Laing (SCO) 70 75 74
220 Jodi Ewart (ENG) 76 71 73, Whitney Hillier (Am, AUS) 74 72 74, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 73 72 75, Lynnette Brooky (NZL) 67 76 77
221 Charlie Douglass (ENG) 71 76 74, Emily Perry (Am, NZL) 67 76 78, Jaclyn Sweeney (USA) 68 74 79
222 Minsun Kim (KOR) 75 72 75, Georgina Simpson (ENG) 71 75 76, Grace Lennon (Am, AUS) 70 72 80
223 Susan Farron (NZL) 74 72 77, Jane Kim (AUS) 71 73 79

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