ALPG - HEDWALL LEADS NSW OPEN

rn(21 January 2011 – Oatlands, Sydney)

Swedish rising star Caroline Hedwall carded a flawless five-under par 67 to sit atop the leaderboard after the opening round of the Bing Lee/Samsung Women’s NSW Open at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney today.

Hedwall who won the 2010 Ladies European Tour Qualifying School by a massive 9 shots last December, holds a slender one shot advantage over a quartet of players including Australian Sarah Jane Smith, Denmark’s Mianne Bagger, rookie New Zealand player Caroline Bon and 13-year old amateur sensation from New Zealand Lydia Ko.

England’s Laura Davies is outright sixth at three-under par, while five players share seventh a further shot back including Australians Vicky Thomas, Stacey Keating, Jody Fleming, Stephanie Na and amateur Minjee Lee.

The 2010 NCAA Player of the Year (Hedwall) was out early in perfect conditions with one of the tournament favourites Davies. Her thoughts were to relax, “I just tried to relax and have a good time out there as I had not played with Laura before.”

When asked if she excited to be paired with Davies she replied, “It was a thrill meeting her, she is a legend.”

The key to her game today was putting “I putted really well today, around 28 putts, think I missed just two greens,” she said.

Ko, was the outright leader at 7-under par after 13 holes, which included six birdies in her opening eight holes. “It was amazing to be seven under after 13 holes.” However a bogey on the 14th and a four-putt double bogey on 15 cost her the lead."

Crowd favourite Davies thought she could have had anything “I played much better than three-under, I could have shot 7, 8, 9 under. I played really well, I had a bogey on the 2nd which was understandable, after that had chance after chance. I missed two greens, 2nd and 12th, other than that played solid golf.”

“To be honest it could have been anything but having said that I am happy with that first day back." Davies stated.

Tournament favourite, Katherine Hull, couldn’t get anything going and finished one-under par and tied 12th. The 28-year old stated “I’m looking forward to the weekend that is the worst score I expect to shoot.”

Defending champion Sarah Oh had a cold putter today and sits at even-par and tied 19th.
rn