Lisa Hall wins ANZ thriller
IN: News | ALPG | ANZ Ladies Masters (2008) | Round Three | by Bruce Young | 10 Feb 2008
In an era where the modern day game is, to a large extent, dominated by the power hitters, it made a refreshing change today for two of the shorter hitters in the field to finish first and second at the ANZ Ladies Masters.
The 40-year-old Englishwoman Lisa Hall is the 2008 Champion after the long time leader on the last day, Shin Hyun Ju, missed a putt of less than a metre at the last, a putt that would have forced the event into a playoff.
Hall is a player good enough to have been Rookie of the Year on the USLPGA Tour in the mid 1990’s and twice a Solheim Cup representative but after a year off in 2005 she is rebuilding her career. Part of that rebuilding process had involved two victories on the Ladies European Tour in 2007 and her experience and class showed in what was a brilliant final round. It was a bogey free, six birdie round, perhaps the most important coming at the 16th which allowed her to join Shin in the lead at 13 under.
She had another chance at the 17th which she missed but made a solid two putt par at the last to leave Shin the task of making par at the last to force the playoff. She couldn’t and the title was Hall’s.
Hall quit golf for a year in 2005 after reaching a point where she had missed all 16 cuts on the LPGA Tour in 2004 and had been unable get the ball airborne.
“I had actually applied for a job as a teaching professional but when I missed out that was probably telling me something,” said Hall after her win.
It had been her husband Martin Hall, who coaches amongst others Morgan Pressel, who encouraged Hall to return to the game, but it might have been a visit to the casino on the Gold Coast this week that encouraged her to believe that she could win this week.
“We (her caddy Mardi Lunn and Hall) walked into the Casino on Tuesday night and I went for my lucky number 11 and up it came,” said Hall after her win. “It has become a bit of a private joke all week between us that Tuesday night had been an omen. I actually played quite well last week in Melbourne but finished 17th after just two or three bad holes so was playing well coming here.”
“My game is not built around power but I hit a lot of manufactured shots and am fairly accurate,” Hall was also quick to acknowledge the support of caddy and friend Mardi Lunn who was a fine player herself in her career on both the European and LPGA Tours. “Mardi’s knowledge of the game generally and this golf course has been a bit part of my success and her friendship has been very special.”
Shin was devastated after her last hole demise but she bravely faced the media. Understandably there were tears in her eyes after threatening all day to win the David and Goliath battle between her and the game’s big hitters. One of the shortest hitters in the field, Shin’s play had been immaculate, hitting some marvellous fairway woods to close range on many holes and playing an incredibly disciplined round of golf. She can be proud of the way she handled her game on this big hitters’ golf course, and the way she fronted the media at what was clearly a difficult time for her.
“The putt at the last was a poor stroke,” she said via an interpreter, referring to the one metre putt she pulled to cost her a playoff appearance.
“I first came to Australia at the age of 13 and so much wanted to win this tournament in this country. There was a lot of pressure today playing with such a great player as Karrie but while I am disappointed I am also very proud,” she added. “I did enjoy playing with Karrie today.”
Third place went to the 20 year old Englishwoman, Felicity Johnson, who produced the round of the day (65) to finish in a share of third with Sweden’s Louise Stahle.
“I am really happy as this style of golf course is not necessarily my forte,” said Johnson. Although a long hitter herself, Johnson prefers courses such as those played last week at Kingston Heath. Johnson, the 2005 English Amateur Champion, finished 59th in her first season on the Ladies European Tour in 2007 and has made fine start to her follow up year.
When Stahle eagled the 3rd today she had joined the lead with Hall but a double bogey at the 3rd would ultimately prove very costly. She finished only two behind the winner.
Webb battle away but once again as had been the case on Saturday her driving let her down.
“I actually thought it might be my day again but some bad tee shots lead to a couple of bogeys and then I lost a lot of confidence with my driver. It wasn’t really until the last couple of holes until I was able to work it out. I was determined not to get too down on myself today and didn’t and so I am proud of that.”
She finished alone in 5th place.
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