Queenslander, Rebecca Kay, has defended her Rene Erichsen Salver title finishing 8-under for the championship, to win by two ahead of Japan’s Yuri Yoshida.
Kay started the day two ahead of Yoshida, but the Japanese star who was low Amateur at this year’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open, took the lead by the fifth hole, with three early birdies.
Kay regained the lead quickly, with a three-birdie run from holes eight thru ten and played solid golf over the closing holes to claim victory.
“It was a quick turnaround; I started with a few bogeys and lost the lead and then had five birdies thru eight holes, which kind of picked it back up.” Kay said
“She (Yoshida) was holing putts from everywhere; I was so nervous too because they (Yoshida and Furue) are such great players.
“I played really well, I knew that I could win, only if I stuck to my own game and didn’t think about what they were doing. I just had to see if I could go as many under as I could. I played really well”.
“They both nearly chipped in on 16 for birdie, both shots just slid past so that could have easily turned around. On 17, I held my birdie putt, I was pretty confident then, but I still had 140 in so anything could have happened.”
Kay was superb over the four rounds firing scores of 71, 73, 69, 71 to go back to back and claim yet another title at Royal Adelaide also winning the SA Junior Masters in 2017.
“I love Royal Adelaide. It’s awesome, it’s probably one of my favorite courses in Australia and I seem to play well on it too.”
“I am really happy, the beginning of the year my putting was pretty poor so I have seen a massive improvement in the last couple of weeks. My approach shots were good this week, I did miss a few, but saved it with my putting.”
“Let’s do a three-peat”. Kay laughed.
“Everyone from Australia plays these events, they’re such great fields, so I’m really really stoked to win this and it hopefully puts my name higher in the Karrie Webb series because that’s one of my goals”
Yoshida was gallant in defeat to finish second with rounds of 72, 73, 70, 71 and at 6-under should be satisfied with her week.
Finishing third was Japan Team member Yuka Yasuda who carded rounds of 69, 74, 74, 72 (3-under).
All in all, five Team Japan players finished in the top seven positions.
South Australian Jin-young Yun (The Grange GC) posted a final round 72 with six birdies to finish 8-over for the tournament and 12th overall.