Marquee groups announced for Women's Australian Open
BY iseekgolf.com | ALPG Tour | 2007 Women's Australian Open | General | 29 Jan 2007
As Royal Sydney adds the final touches for golf’s national championship, Paul McNamee, Executive Chairman of the Australian Opens, has announced a stellar line-up of player groupings for day one of the 2007 MFS Women’s Australian Open (Thursday 1st February).
Defending champion Laura Davies, American beauty Natalie Gulbis and Australian golden girls, Karrie Webb and Nikki Garrett all feature in the marquee player draw for Thursday’s opening round.
Glamour girl Gulbis highlights the morning session teeing off at 8:30am along with 2006 Ladies European Tour (LET) No. 2 Gwladys Nocera of France. Joining them will be local up-and-comer and LET Rookie of the Year, Nikki Garrett.
Gulbis, ranked No. 18 in the world is one of the hottest talents on tour. The 24-year-old never fails to attract a gallery whether it is with her glamour looks or on-course talent, the Californian will be a favourite with the fans in Sydney and is keen to win the title.
The morning will also feature Aussie No. 2 Nikki Campbell. The 25-year old tasted success in Japan in 2006, winning one tournament and finishing 12th on the Order of Merit. She heads out with Swede Linda Wessberg and Italian Veronica Zorzi. Wessberg turned professional three years ago and is one of the LET’s up-and-coming stars. Her maiden tour victory came at the Wales Open when she beat Laura Davies by one stroke. In 2005/06, Zorzi scored back-to-back victories in the French Open and will be determined to add another trophy to her cabinet.
Sarah Kemp and Rachel Hetherington are also part of the Aussie charge in the morning. Kemp is currently ranked first on the ALPG Order of Merit and Hetherington has eight LPGA titles to her name. They will be joined by Korean Ji-Yai Shin who recently represented her country at the Women’s World Cup of Golf.
Superstar, Karrie Webb launches her assault on the 2007 MFS Women’s Australian Open in the feature afternoon group at 1:00pm. The world No. 3 re-captured her career-best form in 2006 winning five tournaments including one major and finishing second on the ADT money list.
Joining Webb will be American sweetheart Brittany Lincicome and Amy Yang making for an all-star cast and must-see golf. Lincicome, the World Match Play champion, is ranked second in driving distance on the LPGA and Yang is the reigning ANZ Ladies Masters champ.
Swede Maria Hjorth, Italian Sophie Sandolo and Australian Lindsey Wright will head out at 12:50pm. Hjorth boasts five international victories and plays on both the LPGA and LET. Sandolo scored three Top 10’s on the LET in 2006 while Wright finished the season sixth on the ALPG Order of Merit.
Big-hitting Laura Davies begins her title defence drawn alongside 2006 Australian Amateur champion, Helen Oh and Yun Jye Wei who is ranked second on the Japanese Tour money list. Davies was recently in action in the Women’s World Cup of Golf in South Africa and is ready to take on her challengers.
The complete draw will be finalised Tuesday 30 January following today’s final qualifying round at St. Michael’s Golf Club, NSW.
Tickets to the 2007 MFS Women’s Australian Open start from AUD$20.00 and are available at the gate.
Source – Golf Australia
