(Oatland&aposs Golf Club, Sydney)
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Central Coast&aposs Nikki Garrett and Sydney&aposs Sarah Oh have started the 2009 LG Bing Lee NSW Women&aposs Open in fine form, firing course record 7-under par 65’s. In a day of low-scoring Oatland’s member Jenny Lee posted a 6-under par 66 and Nikki Campbell and Gwladys Nocera posted 5-under par 67’s.
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rnGarrett posted an albatross on the 4th hole on her way to an outward half of 5-under par 31. Another birdie on the 10th moved her to 6-under. She remained bogey free throughout, adding another birdie on the par-3 14th hole to reach the 7-under mark. After her round she said, “I played really well today. Obviously the albatross helps, but yeah, just really solid.” It was the two-time LET winner’s third albatross following two on the same hole at Tuggerah, with her first coming at the age of 14.
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rnOh, runner-up to Laura Davies last year, started with a bogey on the 1st but went on to post five birdies in her next eight holes to make the turn at 4-under par. Three birdies on the back nine saw her equal the round of Garrett’s, and while lamenting the fact that she “hit the driver terribly” she added, “my short game was on today. I got up-and-down a lot. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the driver going and we’ll see what happens.”
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rnThe early groups made good use of the perfect scoring conditions in the morning. Affable local, Jenny Lee used her local knowledge to advantage, posting a bogey-free round of 6-under par 66. She got her round rolling with three birdies in a row from the 4th hole. Then three pars to finish the front nine saw her make the turn in 3-under par. Further birdies at the 13th, 15th and 17th holes saw her post, at the time, a new course record.
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rnThe headline act for the tournament, and defending champion, Laura Davies posted a &aposmixed bag&apos round that started with a drive out-of-bounds on the very first hole. She recovered from the ensuing double-bogey to record birdies at the 3rd, 4th and 6th holes to get back to 1-under par. An eagle at the 8th saw her make the turn at 3-under par. Two birdies, a double-bogey and a bogey on the back nine meant she went around the back nine in 1-over par for a round of 2-under par 70.
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rnOther leading players after the first round include LPGA of Japan star, Nikki Campbell with a 5-under par 67, who was joined late in the day by 2008 LET No.1, Gwladys Nocera. Queensland&aposs Sarah-Jane Smith, England&aposs Kirsty Taylor and amateur Jessica Noh all recorded 4-under par 68’s to sit three off the pace. Three players are on 3-under par; Jenny Sevil, Stacey Tate, Kate Combes and looming large is LPGA star Katherine Hull, also with a 69.
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rnPlease click here for the day 1 scores.
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rnPlease click here for the round 2 draw.