Ahn's 64 holds up all day at ANZ Ladies
IN: News | ALPG | ANZ Ladies Masters (2007) | Round One | by Bruce Young | 08 Feb 2007
After a morning where Royal Pines had laid down her arms for the field at the ANZ Ladies Masters, the afternoon field faced hot humid conditions and a breeze which increased to around 15 kilometres per hour by mid afternoon. Compared to the hot pace set by the morning field, there were few players making any sort of move in the afternoon, the New Zealander, Sarah Nicholson, and South Australian, Tamie Durdin, the exceptions. Nicholson reached the turn in three under 34 and when she had added another birdie at the 12th she was at four under and led those playing in the afternoon field. After a birdie at her last hole, Nicholson would eventually finish at five under to find herself in a share of fourth place.
Nicholson is a player good enough to have finished 5th at the Espirito Santo Trophy in South Africa in October and although she missed her chance to gain a place on the European Tour at the Tour School late last year, she is spoken of as a player capable of making it in the professional ranks. The biggest problem for Nicholson in her quest to develop her game in the professional arena is that she has nowhere to play on a permanent basis in 2007, at this stage at least. She has been granted an opportunity at this week's event by tournament organizer, Bob Tuohy, as she had been by Golf Australia at last week's MFS Women's Open where she was the only New Zealander to make the cut.
Big hitting Durdin birdied her last two holes to move very much into contention. Durdin plays the Japan Ladies Golf Tour and had a good solid season in 2006 without really threatening to win. Durdin had three top tens in Japan in 2006 and finished 39th on their money list.
The early pace on day one had been set by the South Korean Ahn Sun Ju whose 8 under par round was always going to stand the test of time especially when conditions became just a little more demanding as the day wore on. Ahn is on her first visit to Australia and after a good solid week last week in Sydney where she finished in a share of 7th she suggested in her press conference after she felt less nervous this week. Ahn won an event on the Korean LPGA Tour in 2006 which, given the strength of the players on that Tour and that so many of them go on to international success, speaks volumes for what a victory there means.
She leads by two over Wales' Rebecca Brewerton and Swede Cecilia Ekelundh with a further shot back to a group of five players at five under including the aforementioned Nicholson, and those who achieved that score in the more benign morning conditions, Loraine Lambert, Sakura Yokomine, Michelle Ellis and last week's runner up, Wei Jun Jye.
The pre tournament favourites were perhaps disappointing. Karrie Webb was out early in the day and could only manage a round of one under 71. She complained of being a little flat after her win last week and said she struggled with focus especially over her closing nine holes. She has a big task to get back into the tournament tomorrow but she has started this slowly before and won.
Crisite Kerr did better and at three under is well enough placed but like Webb she will play in the afternoon groups tomorrow. Kerr struggled from the tee today and will need to improve tomorrow.
Natalie Gulbis moved to four under par at one stage in her afternoon round but then dropped two shots before a birdie at the last had her at three under which, given her last round of 81 in Sydney four days ago, was an impressive effort.
The cut appears as if it will be around the even par mark at the completion of 36 holes tomorrow.
