Date: January 28, 2008
Author:

Sarah hoping history repeats

After lighting up last year&aposs MFS Women&aposs Australian Open with an opening round course record, Sarah Kemp is looking to repeat the dose in this week&aposs tournament at Kingston Heath and then go on and claim the national title before beginning her career on the US Tour. Kemp&aposs stunning opening 66 at Royal Sydney saw her take the early lead in 2007, but she faded over the final few days to finish in a tie for 17th, 14 shots shy of eventual winner Karrie Webb. She wants to start well again and keep the momentum going. “It would be nice to do that again this year and keep it going,” the 22-year-old said. “Last year I let it go a bit in the second round. I think I learnt a lot from being the leader in the first round. I know what it is like now. That was the first time I&aposd ever been the leader in the first round of a professional tournament. I definitely got a lot out of it. I think that will help me this week.” 2007 saw Kemp pick up two third places on the European Tour, in the Italian Open and the Northern Ireland Open, as well as four other top 10s. She then secured her US LPGA Tour card with four successive birdies to finish off the 90-hole Q-School. About to enter a whole new stage of her career, the Tuncurry girl, long touted the next Karrie Webb, can&apost wait to get to the US and test herself against the world&aposs best. “The Q-school was pretty big for me. I learnt a lot. I think it is going to help me this year in the LPGA, being in that sort of atmosphere. I think the experience has made me a better player but there is still plenty of improving to do. I&aposm only 22 and I am pretty patient so that will all come,” she said. “I got a visa a couple of weeks ago. That was the first step. I have booked all my flights. After the ANZ Ladies Masters I go to Hawaii for two weeks. Then I&aposm home for about four weeks and then over there for six or seven months. I have some good friends in Florida who open up their house for me. I&aposll probably base myself there when I am not on the road,” she said. But first she has Kingston Heath to tackle. As one of the faces of the Open, she wants to show everyone what she is capable of. “It is a tough course. I&aposve heard they&aposve made it pretty long, which should be good. The greens have always been fantastic. We are lucky that we get to play on these good courses. I&aposm sure it will be in fantastic condition,” she said. “I was in the Australian Institute of Sport before I turned pro. I played a lot of squad golf at Kingston Heath. I have probably played it five or six times. I am a member of New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney and it is similar to that. I really like it.”