W. Australia Women's Stroke Play: Two Share Lead after Three Rounds
Karis Davidson at Western Australian Women's Amateur
(Golf Australia Photo)
KARRINYUP, AUS (March 22, 2016)--Karis Davidson and Hannah Green are feeling anything but 100% fit, yet they sit streets ahead of the field after three rounds of the Bowra & O’Dea Women’s Classic at Lake Karrinyup.
Battling a stomach bug, Queensland’s Davidson managed her third straight round of 4-under par to lead by two shots over a jet-lagged Hannah Green.Lake Karrinyup’s Hannah Thomson is a further eight shots back on 2-under par with the rest of the field over the card -- defending champion Elizabeth Elmassian is+1 in fourth and Victoria’s Zara Woodbridge is +6 and fifth.
The soaring Davidson managed to match her previous two trips around Karrinyup by simply trying to keep the focus on her golf and away from her physical condition.
“I am playing pretty solid, although today I’ve felt really sick,” said Davidson. “I woke up with a bug so I’ll try and get rid of that before tomorrow. I tried not to think about it today as there’s nothing you can really do – except to make sure I kept drinking water.”
Despite Green saying she noticed Davidson walking slowly all day, is was Davidson who pulled away to lead by two shots after Green double bogeyed the 8th hole.Green bounced back with birdies on 9 and 10, but Davidson was able to match the West Australian, coming home with birdies on 10, 14, 16 and 17.
“I feel I putted well and hit a few good shots into the greens,” said Davidson. “I had two birdies in a row and 16 and 17, they were both good approaches and good putts – and I think I did that in the second round as well.”
Davidson is two years the junior to Green, although the pair have gone head to head many times in the past 18 months of amateur golf. with both winning numerous National Ranking events in this time. With a Queensland and NSW Amateur crown under her belt, Davidson knows how to get in the right headspace to defend her lead.
“I’m not really thinking about what [Green] is going to do tomorrow,” said Davidson. “All I’m focusing on is going out and playing against the course because, I know how good Hannah is. I’m sure we’ll have a bit of fun out there and just see what happens.”
Green, who birdied the final hole to get within two shots of Davidson, echoed similar sentiments -- although Green said the importance of her 20 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole wasn't lost on her.
“I knew what the situation was – I just wanted to have as small of a margin as possible to the leader as tomorrow,” said Green, who was facing a similar putt to Davidson who slid short and left of the cup.
“I felt pretty good over the ball. I saw [Karis’ putt] and it broke a lot more than I expected, so I thought that I must be under-reading it and I gave it a bit more.
“It was probably the most solid putt I had all day. If I didn’t see hers I don’t think I would have taken as much so it was helpful.”
While Davidson can only hope to wake up in a better state tomorrow, Green is confident she can get her body-clock back to Perth time by the time she reached the first tee.
“I actually felt worse today than I did yesterday,” said Green.
“I slept for about 10 hours last night, it was so heavy so I think when I woke up this morning I was still in a sleep, but hopefully tomorrow I’ll be set.”