(1 February 2010 – Canberra, ACT).jpg)
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West Australian Kristie Smith tore up the Royal Canberra layout, firing a final round of 9-under par 64 to claim her first professional victory. Smith carded rounds of 70, 69 and 64 to finish at 16-under par and two shots clear of second round leader, Queensland’s Katherine Hull. Sarah-Jane Smith finished in outright third one shot shy of Hull at 13-under par.
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Once it was clear she had secured the win, Smith said “I can’t believe it, I have so many emotions running through me right now, but it is an awesome feeling.” She immediately called her parents (father being former Touring professional, Wayne Smith) to share the emotion.
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The talented 21 year-old from Perth left LPGA stars Katherine Hull, Sarah Kemp and Sarah Jane Smith in her wake as she went on a final round birdie blitz. She started the day four shots back from Hull always thought she was in with a chance, “Four shots is nothing in golf, I knew I had the ability to go low, I have before at the ANZ (Ladies Masters) and I just went out and tried to do it again.” Smith stated after her round. She did exactly that, getting out of the blocks quickly with a birdie, eagle, birdie run on the 4th, 5th and 6th holes.
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With nine to play, Hull held the lead at 13-under par with Sarah-Jane Smith second at 12-under, while Smith was at 11-under par. Things changed dramatically however within the space of three holes, Hull surrendering her lead following a bogey at the 10th hole and then a double bogey at the par 3 13th, while Kristie Smith got back on the birdie train posting birdies at the 10th and 11th holes. Kristie Smith wasn’t alone at the top with Sarah-Jane Smith posting a brace of birdies at the 11th and 12th holes to sit at 13-under par and share the lead with Kristie..jpg)
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Kristie Smith then birdied the 13th, 14th and 16th holes to move clear at 16-under par, while Sarah-Jane Smith had her chance after she birdied the 15th to move within two shots. However, a bogey on the par 3 17th saw her chances slip, needing an improbable albatross on the last, to force a playoff. Hull, who dropped back to 10-under after her double fought back well with four birdies in the last five holes to finish outright second at 14-under par, carding rounds of 67,68 and 70. Sarah Jane Smith held on to outright third at 13-under par with rounds of 66, 71 and 69, while Victoria’s Lindsey Wright stormed home picking up five shots in the last four holes with a birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie finish to shoot 68 and finish fourth at 9-under par. England’s Laura Davies had her best round of the tournament in the final round, a 3-under par 70 to finish at 1-under par total and tied 19th. Local favourite Nikki Campbell finished tied 30th at one-over par.
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Photos by Paul Melville – ALPG Tour
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