(28 January 2012 – Oatlands, Sydney)
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This time last year 14-year old Lydia Ko came so close to creating women’s golfing history. Twelve months later she may well write her name in the history books by winning the Bing Lee Samsung Women’s NSW Open at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney, tomorrow.
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rnThe World No. 1 amateur is poised to become the youngest female to win a professional tournament on one of the five recognised women’s professional golf tours. The child prodigy posted a remarkable 8-under par 64 to sit on 11-under-par. This sees her take a four shot advantage into the final round, with Victoria’s Lindsey Wright on 7-under after a round of 66.
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rnKo’s round was almost without fault on an overcast but dry day. It started with a birdie, and then par, before another birdie on the par-4 3rd hole, followed by an eagle on the par-5 fourth. Ko, hit her second shot to 36-feet just in the fringe and holed her 9-iron chip. She commented, “I normally don’t hit a 9-iron from the fringe but I thought I might as well since I had birdied two out of the first three holes.”
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rnAnother par on the fifth was promptly followed by three straight birdies to finish her opening nine holes in an incredible 7-under par 29. It was her lowest nine hole total in a tournament.
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rnHer back nine was a little more subdued; she started with three straight pars on three of the harder holes, and then made a great up and down on the 13th to keep her unblemished round on track. A three putt from 20 feet on the 14th was her first and only bogey of the day but the minor hiccup didn’t phase her as she hit straight back with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
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rnHer round of 64 wasn’t an official course record due to the preferred lies rule being in place due to the wet conditions. About her round she said, “I played consistent like yesterday, not many mistakes. I think I was 99.9 per cent today. I&aposm really happy.”
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rnWright is leading the chasing pack at seven-under par after carding a bogey-free 6-under par 66, her best round in the past 15 months. The 32-year old said, “It’s the best I’ve hit the ball in 2 years, I’m just firing at the pin, instead of struggling with everything.”
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rnFrenchwoman Gwladys Nocera is outright third at six-under par, while West Australian Kristie Smith (67) is a further shot back.
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rnSix players including first round co-leader Rachel Bailey (72) England’s Melissa Reid (70) and New South Wales’ Nikki Garrett (71) all share fifth position at four-under par.
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rnOther notables in the field Queensland’s Katherine Hull had a better day posting a 69 to share xx position at two-under par. England’s Laura Davies (72) is at one-over par and tied for xx position. First round co-leader Karen Lunn shot a disappointing 77 to also be at one-over par.
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rnKo continues to be on track to finish the leading amateur. The leading amateur at the conclusion of the tournament receives a $1,000 voucher managed through an HSBC banking account and administered by Golf NSW. The voucher will directly contribute to the reimbursement of the player&aposs expenses.
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