Sydney&aposs Sarah Oh has captured the biggest win of her professional career at the LG Bing Lee NSW Women&aposs Open at Oatlands Golf Club. Oh started the day with a healthy four shot lead and held off a mid-round challenge from Sunshine Coast’s Katherine Hull to finish three shots clear of the field.
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Oh shot a three-under par round of 69 to go with her 65 and 67 to finish at 15-under par total 201. As she did in the opening two rounds, Oh only posted one bogey. She recorded birdies on the 6th, 10th, 13th and the long 17th hole meaning she walked to the par-3 18th with a comfortable 3-shot cushion. A safe par at the last ensured her the biggest victory of her burgeoning professional career.
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Oh was emotional in her victory speech when she thanked her mum and dad at the end, needing Women’s Golf NSW CEO Frances Crampton to finish off. Oh revealed later that it was the first time that her mother had come out to watch her play in a tournament, as she is normally too nervous to do so. However, this morning Sarah asked her specifically to come and watch and she did.
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“It’s a very big tournament to win, especially on my home ground of NSW. “ Oh said after the victory.
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“I was very confident throughout the day, I just believed in myself” when asked how she handled the pressure on the back nine and made some great sand saves and critical putts. She also explained that the experience from last year, playing in the last group with Katherine Hull and Laura Davies, certainly assisted her this year.
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Oh is looking forward to the next three weeks as she is very confident she can do well at the New Zealand Women’s Open, ANZ Ladies Masters and Women’s Australian Open.
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Hull, who had her chances particularly on the back agreed after the round, “I didn’t convert too well on the back nine, but was happy with the way I played, that is all you can do; give it your best.” Hull had an interesting day when on the 8th hole, her tee shot hit Lexus Cup Team Member, Nikki Campbell who was playing the 10th hole. The ball hit her on the fly on the right buttock and it has left a nice ball mark and bruise, requiring St John Ambulance assistance.
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Adelaide’s Susie Mathews finished outright third at 8-under par, while Central Coast’s Nikki Garrett and Canberra’s Nikki Campbell finished a further shot behind at 7-under par. Sarah-Jane Smith finished outright sixth on 6-under par, while defending champion, Laura Davies finished at 5-under par alongside Sarah Kemp, Mollie Fankhauser, Marianne Skarpnord and Jenny Lee.
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