NSW Women's Am: Rachel Lee keeps rolling in match play after winning medalist honors
Rachel Lee (NSW Golf Photo)
Rachel Lee was made to work hard in her two-up win against a spirited Yerin Kim, but she is still the player to beat with the Women’s NSW Amateur.
Several other players, however, will be left scratching their heads and wondering what if, after a brace of young hopefuls grabbed some surprise wins.
Local hope Amy Squires is one such surprise packet after claiming victory over Indonesia’s Reicherin Hanslkie.
Squires fought back from two down early, winning a brace of holes on the way home for a 2/1 win.
“I had to slap myself in the face because I was playing terribly at the start.
” I knew I only had to make pars to win holes and the fact I wasn’t doing it annoyed me.”
The Port Stephens teenager said her coach, Mark Ingrey’s words from a range session the day before jolted her mindset back onto the right path.
“He told me I needed to feel more confident with my golf swing.
“It worked, then my putting suddenly got better, and I felt a lot more confident coming home over the last nine holes.”
Squires admitted confidence is a big part of her game, and she strives to take it to the first every time she plays.
“It’s a thought I like to take to the tee every time I play.
“the more confident you are the more likely you are to win, but you never know what’s going to happen,” she grinned.
In the pick of the other contests, Catalina Surprise packet Sophie Epplestun claimed a big scalp in the 2023 NSW State Team Co-captain Belinda Ji, winning one-up.
Lara Thomsen fought back from a two-hole deficit to win 2/1 over Michelle Yang. She admitted that the win came with just a touch of help from her younger sister, Mimi, who worked as her caddie.
“I was pretty frustrated with my putting early, but I asked her to look at a couple of putts, and it seemed to work.
“She is my younger sister and I won’t admit I take her advice all the time, but sometimes it works,” she smiled.
In the other contests, Annabel Hutchings rolled in a final-hole birdie to defeat Sophie Perkins, Sienna Clarke defeated Erica Tan, 2/1, while Rebecca Zhao defeated Camilla Kim, one up.
Ella Scaysbrook could be forgiven for thinking what might have been in her loss to Godiva Kim, going down to the Quuenslader on the 19th hole.
Recap courtesy of David Tease of NSW Golf
ABOUT THE New South Wales Women's Amateur
The NSW Medal is played over two courses. It is two
rounds of 18-holes stroke play and then
match play.
The field is evenly divided between the two venues
for the first day’s play with players changing
venues for their second round. The winner of the 36
holes stroke play section of the
Championship is the winner of the NSW Medal.
The leading 16 players from the NSW Medal (who
have nominated to play in the NSW Amateur)
will be eligible to compete in the NSW Amateur
Championship Match Play, with each match
played over 18-holes other than the Final which is
played over 36-holes. The match play is
seeded with ties determined by lot.
View Complete Tournament Information