Hannah Green has propelled Australia to a promising start at the World Junior Girls’ Championship in Canada.
The Perth star threatened to leave the field in her wake early in her round at The Marshes Golf Club, near Ottawa, but a couple of late three-putts cooled her down as she finished even par and tied fourth, just two behind Korean leader Hye-jin Choi.
Becky Kay fought back well after an opening double-bogey to finish at two over, while fellow Queenslander Karis Davidson battled gamely to finish four over.
The best two scores left Australia at two over after day one, tied sixth in the team event and just four back from the Koreans.
Green, a member of the Golf Australia national squad, began solidly enough with par on the 10th hole, but peeled off four consecutive birdies from there to roar to the lead at four under.
But as the wind picked up late in the afternoon, the scoring conditions became increasingly difficult and the Mount Lawley member’s triple-bogey six on the 8th – her second-last hole – was the key factor in dropping her out of the red numbers.
“Unfortunately on the eighth I found water and three-putted for triple, but besides that I was happy with my round,” Green said.
“I played really well on the first five holes but then had a couple of three-putts after nine.
“Overall I putted pretty solid though and holed some crucial putts.
“The winds picked up for my back nine which made it harder to score.”
Kay, of Coolangatta-Tweed, had an erratic round, but showed flashes of brilliance in making five birdies that should stand her in good stead as the four-round event continues.
Davidson, of Sanctuary Cove, hit the ball better than her score indicated and remains confident of a better score tomorrow.
Australia should enjoy the calmer conditions of the morning tomorrow, off the first tee at 8.33am, Ontario time, in the second round.