Webb heads star players at 2003 AAMI Women's Australian Open
BY iseekgolf.com | ALPG Tour | 2003 Women's Australian Open | General | 05 Feb 2003
Karrie Webb will lead a star-studded cast of players at the AAMI Women’s Australian Open Championship this month in Sydney. Laura Davies, Sophie Gustafson, Laura Diaz and Kelly Robbins will join Webb at Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club from February 27 – March 2 for Australia’s premier women’s golf event.
Webb is a two-time winner of the AAMI Women’s Australian Open and will be defending the title she won last year at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne. She defeated talented young Norwegian Suzann Pettersen on the first hole of a sudden death playoff in 2002. Webb previously won the title in record-breaking fashion in 2000.
Webb created history in 2002 by becoming the first female player to win the “Super Career Grand Slam” with her triumph at the Weetabix Women’s British Open. The 28-year-old Webb has now won an unprecedented five different major championships. She is a holder of six major championship trophies in all.
England’s Laura Davies, 39, has won four major titles herself and has been in pursuit of an AAMI Women’s Australian Open title for several years. She finished third at Yarra Yarra in 2000 and has also won the Australian Ladies Masters twice. One of the all-time greats, Davies has won 66 professional titles – her latest victory coming last year at the Norwegian Masters.
Sophie Gustafson won the 2001 AAMI Women’s Australian Open after a thrilling duel with Webb at Yarra Yarra. The 29-year-old Swede finished a creditable fifth last year in her title defence. She won her 10th individual Evian Ladies European Tour title at the 2002 Biarritz Ladies Classic. Gustafson finished top of the 2000 Evian Tour money list after a stellar season in which she won three events.
Laura Diaz is a rising American star with a tremendous 2002 season behind her. The 27-year-old won her first two LPGA Tour titles and posted ten top-10 finishes in all. These efforts propelled her to seventh place on the LPGA Money List. Diaz impressed in the majors in 2001 finishing second at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship and tying for third at the Weetabix Women’s British Open.
Kelly Robbins will provide another American challenge at Terrey Hills. The 33-year-old has been a regular visitor to the AAMI Women’s Australian Open and finished second in the 1998 Championship. Robbins is a winner of nine LPGA Tour events and also has one major title to her credit – the 1995 LPGA Championship. She twice finished second on the 2002 LPGA Tour.
The last time the Women’s Australian Open was played in Sydney was in 1978 at Manly Golf Club when Debbie Austin won.
The AAMI Women’s Australian Open is a Women’s Golf Australia event co-sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Evian Ladies European Tour.
The recent honour roll of champions at the AAMI Women’s Australian Open is impressive. Winners in the past decade have included the likes of Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, Sophie Gustafson and Liselotte Neumann.
