St. Michael’s Stephanie Kyriacou has rocketed into a share of the lead alongside Queensland’s Sarah Wilson after the first round of the Australian Girls’ Championship at Royal Perth Golf Club today.
Despite starting with a bogey on her opening hole, Kyriacou was almost flawless in her round, carding four birdies and a lone bogey to finish at four under par.
RELATED LINKS (click to view)
KOOL KIM: Christina makes girls day
QUALIFIER: Unlocking Marsh's masterpiece
US JR GIRLS: Nervous start for Steph
PROFILE: Stephanie Kyriacou
Defending Champion Grace Kim of Avondale is a shot back in a tie for third at three under par, while Sophie Yip and June Song are tied for 8th.
Kyriacou put her score down to a red hot-putter, which she seemed a little surprised about after the round.
“I hit it average, but holed so many putts.
“I didn’t miss from inside ten feet.
“I was like wow! Golf is so fun, especially when I’m holing putts,” Kyriacou smiled.
The 17-year-old is wasn’t expecting to be holding the lead, stating she would’ve been just happy to be thereabouts with the favourites.
“I was hoping to be in the top five,” she said.
<image="2" align="left" />
Kyriacou, who played number one for St Michael’s in last Sunday’s Women’s Metropolitan Major Pennant final loss to Concord, said the highlight of today's round was her hybrid second shot into the long par four 17th.
I had 163 metres in and hit it to about a foot,” she smiled.
The determined teenager is now setting her sights high for the remainder of the week.
“I wan to shoot under par for every round coming in, that’s my goal.
“Hopefully I can play with a couple of my teammates in the last group on Friday,” she smiled.
In the Boy’s Division at Gosnells Golf Club, The Australian GC’s Thomas Heaton is the best placed NSW player in a tie for 11th at one over par at the end of the first round.
It was a dissapointing day for the Blues, with the next best the trio of Jeffery Guan, Bart Carroll and Harrison Crowe in a log jam of players back at two over par in a tie for 16th.
SCORES – Girls
Stephanie Kyriacou -4
Grace Kim -3
June Song +1
Sophie Yip +1
Kara Williams +3
Belinda JI +3
Bella Kil +4
Monica Johnson +5
Annika Boyd +6
Claire Shin +7
Annika Rathbone +8
Jasmine Driscoll +9
Taylah Ellems +13
Scores – Boys:
Thomas Heaton +1
Jeffrey Guan +2
Bart Carroll +2
Harrison Crowe +2
Che Sandiford +2
Jackson Hall +3
Jye Pickin +3
Conor Whitelock +3
Harvey Remfrey +4
Morgan Yang +4
Corey Lamb +4
Lachlan Jones +6
Ethan Chambers +6
Kaine Andres +7
Brock Speechley +9
Isaac Outridge +10
Adam Coull +10
Jack Harlen Robertson +13
Joeng In Park +14