Youth over experience on day two of Open
BY David Collinge | ALPG Tour | 2007 Women's Australian Open | Round Two | 02 Feb 2007
Honours for the morning round at day two of the Women’s Australian Open belong to some of the younger members of the field.
Yun-Jye Wei from Chinese Taipei and Korea’s Amy Yang have been the only real movers on the leaderboard, despite relatively calm conditions and some easy pin placements at Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Wei was 4 under overnight, and has added birdies at the 11th, 14th and 2nd to move into outright lead ahead of Sarah Kemp (yet to tee off) at 7 below par.
Amy Yang, who played most of her junior golf on the Gold Coast and won last year’s ANZ Masters as an amateur, had another up and down round – 4 birdies and 3 bogies. If she can achieve some consistency she’ll be in with a chance this weekend.
Both Karrie Webb and Laura Davies are yet to make a move. After 12 holes, Webb remains in equal third place and on the same score as when the day began, five under. Starting on the tenth tee and playing with Yang, Webb picked up a birdie at the par 5 13th, but then bogeys at the next two holes were damaging. Webb only regained her position with another birdie on the second. Perhaps the easier front nine will see her move into the lead later this afternoon.
Defending champion Laura Davies continues to struggle. One over yesterday, the Brit appears to be playing without rhythm, getting exasperated at the way her luck is falling. Then again, she’s nothing if not a fighter, and if she can maintain her current three over she might survive for the weekend.
All eyes will be on overnight leader Kemp and Nikki Campbell when they start their second round on the front nine this afternoon. Campbell was on fire yesterday, shooting a 29 on the outward nine, and if she can find that form again today – taking advantage of similar conditions – she will be the one to beat at the halfway point.
Kemp will also be looking to repeat her form from the first round. She has had the limelight overnight and will undoubtedly have a strong crowd following today. By all accounts this suits her, her comment yesterday being “I like to show off!”.
The organisers and sponsors will be hoping the Natalie Gulbis has a better second round after yesterday’s 2 over par. Another performance like that may see her in danger of missing the cut – not a great return on the investment to have her playing here.
Photo – Anthony Powter
