Date: October 10, 2008
Author:

WATC Day 3- Australia on the verge of top ten

DAY THREE REPORT Australia slipped back to 12th place on the leaderboard despite two solid rounds from Clare Choi and Stephanie Na. The team is now level with Scotland at 11-over and a stroke behind Colombia and England. Na started in sensational fashion on The Grange s East course, making five birdies in her opening nine holes to offset two bogeys and sit at 3-under. Na s bogey on the 10th- one of the toughest par-4 s on the course- left her still comfortable at 2-under and looking to build on her score. A trip to the 12th and one of the most undulating sections of land on the golf course left Na with a double bogey and even par as she headed for home. Without missing a beat, Na went on to eagle the longest hole on the course (520 metres) and grabbed back the two shots she dropped on the previous hole. But with the clubhouse in sight, Na sandwiched a double bogey on the 17th with bogeys on 16 and 18 to finish 2-over . Victoria s Clare Choi began with her most solid 9 holes of the championship so far shooting par on every hole to be at even-par 37 at the turn. Bogeys on the 11th and 12th cost Choi two strokes but a birdie on the par-3 14th had her back at one over. Another bogey on the 15th- one of the most difficult driving holes on the East Course- put Choi at 2-over. She recovered well though and with a birdie on the Par 5 16th , finished her round at one over. Julia Boland opened her round with a double bogey but recovered to birdie the 3rd and 6th holes and settle for a 2-over 39 after nine holes. A double bogey on 13 dragged Boland to 5-over and after safely travelling through 14, 15 and 16, back-to-back bogeys gave her a 7-over par 80. Scoreboard Clare Choi 76-76-74 (+8) Stephanie Na 73-73-75 (+3) Julia Boland 78-77-80 (+17) The rules of the championship direct that the two best scores from each round be counted and Julia Boland&aposs score was not counted on Day 2.