Australian Karrie Webb will be looking to capture her eighth major championship tomorrow in a marathon 36 hole final day of the Ricoh Women’s British Open being played Royal Liverpool.
rn
rnThe 37-year-old, who didn’t hit the ball as well as she did in first round, will have to overcome South Korean Jiyai Shin who posted a superb eight-under-par 64 to open up a five shot lead at the halfway mark of the tournament.
rn
rnShin sits atop of the leaderboard at nine-under-par and is five shots clear of fellow Korean Inbee Park (68). Webb (70) and Japan’s Mika Miyazato (70) are a shot further behind on three under par.
rn
rnWebb carded a two-under-par, which included two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, she recorded pars under the par 5 16th, where the multi British Open winner eagled the hole.
rn
rnAfter her round Webb was a little surprised to be so far behind. “I&aposm happy to be at 3 under and I&aposm surprised to be six shots behind being at 3 under. I&aposm happy with the way I played and handled the golf course.”
rn
rn“There was no wind today and I wasn&apost swinging as well as I would have liked. When the conditions were tougher, it made me fight a little bit and get more creative and hit more golf shots rather than technically trying to play my way around the course.”
rn
rnThe second round was cancelled due to gale force winds. With the weather expecting to be worse again for the final 36 holes, Webb will be in perfect position to utilise her creativity and experience to hopefully capture another major title.
rn
“Obviously 36 holes to go, you have to remember, even though it&aposs Sunday, there&aposs 36 holes out there. Just try to narrow the gap and see how it goes.” She commented.
rn
rnShin, who won the Kingsmill Championship on Monday after a nine-hole play-off, scorched the Hoylake course with an eagle and six birdies in the final major championship of the season.
rn
rnShin, the 2008 champion at Sunningdale, hit 18 greens in regulation, didn’t find a bunker and only missed one fairway as she plotted her way around the links on a sunny afternoon. She played her first nine in becalmed conditions, before the winds strengthened later in the day.
rn
rn“A bogey free day and then bunker free, too,” said Shin. “I missed just one fairway. And on the back nine, it&aposs blowing very strong wind, but I just stay focussed on my tempo.”
rn
rnShin made an unbelievable start when she chipped in from 30 yards for eagle at the 10th, her first hole. She then followed with three straight birdies and after picking up another shot on 16 she was six under through seven holes.
rn
rnOn her second nine, she birdied the fourth and the seventh and held on to post her lowest ever round in a major championship. The lowest round in a women’s major is 62, recorded by Minea Blomqvist in the 2004 Ricoh Women’s British Open and equalled by Lorena Ochoa in the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship.
rn
rn“I can&apost believe the way I hit it, 64 shots today on this course, it&aposs really tough,” Shin said.
rn
rnKatie Futcher of the United States ended alone in fifth at two under, with five players on one under: Ai Miyazato (72), Jenny Shin (68), Vicky Hurst (72), Carin Koch (71) and 15-year-old amateur Lydia Ko (71). Two-time defending champion Yani Tseng was in a group on level par after successive 72s.
rn
rnKatherine Hull (72) is the next best placed Australian, the runner-up at Royal Birkdale in 2010, is currently tied for 11th at even par. Lindsey Wright (72) birdied her last four holes to finish at four-over-par and make the cut, she is currently tied 38th. Stephanie Na (73) and Sarah Jane Smith (75) both made it thru on the cut number of five-over par and share 42nd position.
rnWith the cut number being reduced to the top 50 and ties, 57 players will tee it up. Unfortunately for Nikki Garrett she finished at six-over-par and missed by one. Karen Lunn (+8), Rachel Bailey (+10), Rebecca Artis (+11) all missed the cut.
rn
rnGarrett will however receive prizemoney, as those down to position 65 and tied will still receive prize money.
rn
rnStacey Keating, who was just one of the lead heading into the second round, was disqualified when she signed an incorrect score card at the end of her round. She was lying in a share of 32nd on three over par at the time.
rn
rnThe third round is due to commence at 7am on Sunday, with the fourth and final round scheduled to conclude at approximately 6.30pm. There will be no redraw at the conclusion of the third round.
rn
rn