Young stars set to shine at AAMI Women's Australian Open

BY iseekgolf.com | ALPG Tour | 2003 Women's Australian Open | General | 20 Feb 2003

The AAMI Women’s Australian Open will showcase some of the best young overseas talent in golf. Paula Marti, Suzann Pettersen, Karine Icher and Marine Monnet will represent the finest from Europe while American pair Beth Bauer and Natalie Gulbis are confirmed as well. The $500,000 event will be played at Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club in Sydney from February 27 – March 2.

This brigade of young stars will have to contend with the likes of defending champion Karrie Webb, Laura Davies, Sophie Gustafson, Laura Diaz and Kelly Robbins at Australia’s premier women’s golf event.

Paula Marti won the 2002 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in only her second full year as a professional. The 23-year-old Spaniard’s consistency proved crucial last year as she finished runner-up at the Weetabix Women’s British Open and French Open and third in the Spanish Open. In the British Open at Turnberry (the season’s final major championship), she fired four rounds in the 60’s to tie for second just two shots behind Karrie Webb. Marti made a tremendous debut on the Ladies European Tour in 2001 winning the Italian Open and British Masters.

Suzann Pettersen, a 21-year-old Norwegian, made a huge impression at the 2002 AAMI Women’s Australian Open. She played exceptionally well before losing out on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to Webb at Yarra Yarra. Pettersen finished seventh on the 2002 European Order of Merit. She turned pro after topping the individual standings at the 2000 World Amateur Team Championship. Incredibly, she very nearly won the 2001 European Order of Merit after winning the French Open and finishing second on three other occasions. Her second place finish on the Order of Merit that year was the highest ever by a rookie.

Karine Icher, 24, is another player who has made an impact in Europe early in her professional career. The Frenchwoman won twice during her rookie year in 2001 to finish third on the Order of Merit. She backed up in 2002 with a victory at the Spanish Open, top-three placings at the French Open and Norwegian Masters and a sixth-place finish on the Order of Merit. Icher was a key member of the French team that won the 2000 World Amateur Team Championship. She won the 2000 European Tour Qualifying School soon after.

Marine Monnet, a 24-year-old compatriot of Icher, has been one of the best players in Europe over the past three years, but incredibly is still waiting for her first European Tour victory. Monnet, who won the 1999 British Amateur title, finished third on the European Order of Merit in 2000, fourth in 2001 and seventh in 2002. She has been runner-up twice and third on six occasions. Monnet has played well at the AAMI Women’s Australian Open tying for 10th last year and for eighth in 2001.

Beth Bauer won the 2002 Rookie of the Year Award on the LPGA Tour after posting six top-10 finishes (including a tie for eighth at the Women’s British Open). She very nearly won last year finishing second in the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic. The 22-year-old Floridian finished in 18th place on the LPGA Money List. Bauer won 17 times as a junior in the US during a fine amateur career.

Natalie Gulbis, 20, finished second to Bauer in the Rookie of the Year Award after finishing in the top 10 four times. She also finished in the top 15 in two majors – the LPGA Championship and British Open. Gulbis, who hails from Sacramento, was a brilliant amateur. At just 14, she became the youngest ever to win the California Women’s Amateur and was also the US Women’s Amateur Medallist in 1998 at the age of 15.

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.