(17 February 2011 – Pegasus, New Zealand)
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The old saying of beware of the sick golfer rang true today in the opening round of the Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch. Italian Giulia Sergas shot a career low round of 8-under par 64 at the Pegasus golf course after climbing out of her sick bed.
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She fired seven birdies to accompany an eagle at the par-4 sixth and would have equalled the 63 set by Swede Pernilla Lindberg in the final round last year if she didn’t have a three putt bogey on the par 4 17th.
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Although a frequent visitor to the Australian tournaments, Sergas had not travelled to New Zealand before and it did not augur well for her maiden Christchurch stop-over when she was so ill she didn’t play a practice round and only hit five balls on the range yesterday before returning to her bed.
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“I had no energy, I’m taking antibiotics and they’re helping, but I still don’t feel 100 per cent even though I played so good,’’ she commented after her round.
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The 31-year old arrived with her own caddy and complimented her regular bag-carrier for pointing her in the right direction and assisting her read of the greens. Sergas was also grateful that she had a morning start and was finishing as the afternoon starters were confronted by a buffeting north-easterly wind.
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After birdies at the third and fifth holes, Sergas’ round gained real impetus when she holed a 56yd wedge for an eagle at the par-4 331m sixth. She birdied the par-5 ninth to turn in 31, five-under, then birdied 10, 15 and 16 before having her only bogey at the par-4 17th when she left her approach on the front fringe and three-putted. A birdie at the par-5 finishing hole erased that one lapse.
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“I’ll rest now and get better physically for tomorrow. I like the course and hope it’s not super windy tomorrow afternoon and I can play the same golf,’’ said Sergas, who led the 2009 British Open after three rounds before slipping to a share of 11th.
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Sergas holds a three-shot lead over Korean Bo-Bea Kim with American Amelia Lewis, France’s Cassandra Kirkland, German Anja Monke and the Netherlands Christel Boeljon all share third position five back on 69.
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Four players share seventh position at 2-under par 70 including 13-year old local amateur Lydia Ko, American Diana D’Alessio, England’s Elizabeth Bennett and New Zealand’s Caroline Bon. Australian Kristie Smith, Canadian Lorie Kane, Italian Diana Luna and England’s Danielle Bowers are all a further shot back.
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Only 14 players shot better than par on the challenging day. Defending champion Laura Davies was out in the afternoon gusty winds of over 40 km/hr and carded a credible even-par 72 and was extremely happy with that score considering the conditions and lies tied 15th position.
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