Sunny Park blazes to victory

Australian Ladies Amateur Tour | 2007 Australian Women's Amateur Championship | 29 Mar 2007

Grand Finals Photo Gallery

Sunny Park has won the Women’s Australian Amateur championship with a sensational come from behind victory over Victoria’s Emma Bennett at the NSW Golf Club today.

Trailing 5 down after just 17 holes, Park proved that old adage in sport that it really isn’t over until it’s over. It wasn’t until the 35th hole that she was able to get her nose in front.

As a disconsolate Bennett approached the 36th tee wondering how she let a 5 up lead slip away everyone thought Park was set to seal the victory. But just to add more drama to the day, the athletic Bennett showed incredible pluck to birdie the hole and square the match. Under leaden skies the girls then headed down the 37th hole and it wasn’t until Park parred the 38th hole that the trophy was hers.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, it went on for so long,” said a tired and overwhelmed Park.

“On the front nine she was playing so well but then she started making a few mistakes while I was trying to be consistent. I kept thinking if I just concentrate on my scoring you never know what might happen.”

Park’s run started at the 18th when she won the hole to get the match back to 4 under.

“It sounds funny but 4 down gave me a lot of confidence, I just kept trying to get it back.”

After a quick stop for lunch the girls then headed out for another 18 and Park started to fight with a win on the 19th hole to get the match back to 3 down but such is the nature of matchplay, she then gave away any gains when Bennett answered with a birdie on the 23rd to get the lead back out to 4.

At this stage of the match only Park’s most ardent supporters gave her any chance of taking home the silverware but then the unthinkable happened. Despite such a commanding lead a disappointed Bennett admitted she made the golfer’s cardinal sin.

“I started counting down the holes which is a terrible thing to do,” a tearful Bennett said. “I missed some three or four footers for the win and allowed her to stay in the match. It really was just poor, messy golf and I hate to lose when playing bogey golf. But full credit to Sunny she just hung in there really well.”

Park sensed Bennett was losing her focus and started to turn the screws. After the lanky Victorian sprayed her second into the thick rough on the par four 25th hole, Park was able to make some inroads.

All of a sudden it was 2 down and game on.

“Emma started to open the door for me and I was able to win a few back. I wasn’t really looking at how far down I was, I was more looking at what I was actually scoring. My caddie, Anthony, my boyfriend was great he just kept me so calm and relaxed. I was enjoying myself out there.”

The game stayed at two down for two holes until an errant tee shot from Bennett on the par three 29th allowed Park to claw her way back to I down. Despite solid drives off the tee, Bennett was unable to get her approach shots close to the hole, constantly allowing Park back into the match.

“I tried not to dwell on those mistakes but I just couldn’t get the errors out of my head. There is no use dwelling over it but it really is just so disappointing.”

For Park the win has given her great confidence.

“It certainly makes me know that I can do it if I hang in there, “she said.

As the Australian Amateur Champion, Park has won automatic entry into next year’s MFS Women’s Australian Open. She also teams up with her vanquished opponent, Bennett, in May when she heads over to South Africa to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Cup. Sarah Oh, Frances Bondad and Stephanie Na make up the rest of the team who will battle it out against New Zealand, Canada and England in Johannesburg.

While she is looking forward to the international challenge, it is the immediate future that has demanded Park’s attention.

“I have to get my wisdom teeth out tomorrow and I am more scared about that than having to sink a one metre putt for a championship.”

Photo – Anthony Powter