Ahn takes early lead at Royal Pines
BY Bruce Young | ALPG Tour | 2007 ANZ Ladies Masters | Round One | 08 Feb 2007
On a day made for good scoring, the field assembled for the 2007 ANZ Ladies Masters took advantage of the near perfect early morning conditions at Royal Pines and by the time the morning field had finished their rounds, the Korean Sun Ju Ahn led the event.
Ahn played well in last week’s MFS Women’s Australian Open and finished but the 19-year-old was out amongst the early starters at 7:20 today and by the time she had made the turn she had already recorded seven birdies. Those birdies came at her 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 9th holes bearing in mind that she had started on the 10th hole.
Things were not about to stop there as further birdies were to follow at her 11th and 12th holes. By then she was at six under for the day and had a two shot lead over a large group at six under which included Queenslander Loraine Lambert, Sweden’s Cecelia Ekelundh, Japanese star Sakura Yokomine, Wales’ Rebecca Brewerton and last week’s runner up Wei Jun Jye.
Ahn would go on to finish at 8 under 64 and said later that this was her best round in tournament golf. Ahn is one of several playing this event from the Korean LPGA Tour and as a winner last year on that tour, which regularly produces top class golfers, she is clearly a player to watch. “I played in Australia for the first time last week,” said Ahn through an interpreter. “I was nervous then but am feeling more confident this week.”
The pre tournament favourites, Karrie Webb and Cristie Kerr made slow starts to the event, Webb recording only two birdies through the course of her early morning round. Like Webb, Kerr could only manage two birdies, perhaps feeling the impact of this being her first event of the season.
For Webb it was a case of being a little mentally fatigued.
“I felt a little bit flat,” said Webb after her round. “I created a few opportunities early and didn’t take advantage and then seemed to lose concentration on the back nine. I couldn’t really focus,” said the five time winner of the event.
She finished with 71 and has a lot of work to do but she has started this event slowly in the past and won so she is not yet out of it despite the significant start she is giving several top quality players.
Kerr finished her round at three under, a birdie at her last hole taking making her round impressive enough given that she is playing her first event of the season.
At six under is the Welsh golfer Becky Brewerton who is now into her sixth year on the Ladies European Tour. Brilliant as an amateur, Brewerton has done well in her career to date but she is still chasing that elusive victory.
Another European golfer Cecilia Ekelundh of Sweden is a three time winner on the Ladies European Tour and she made a great start towards another when she opened with 66 also to be at six under and two behind Ahn.
Sakura Yokomine is one of only three players in this field inside the top twenty in the world and gave an indication as to why that is the case with an opening round of 67 to be well placed after her opening round. A three time winner on the Japan ladies Golf Tour in 2006, Yokomine has a huge Japanese media contingent with her this week and she didn’t let them down. There are comparisons to the performance her countrywoman Ai Miyazato produced to years ago when she so nearly pipped Karrie Webb for the title.
Michelle Ellis and Loraine Lambert are two local golfers, who have battled in the last couple of years although both have played the US LPGA Tour at various stages. Ellis, who is from Casino in Northern New South Wales, still has her card on that Tour and her start to this event (67) is encouraging for season 2007.
The afternoon field faced warm conditions and gentle breezes and while the conditions could not match those of the morning more good scoring is expected.
