CANBERRA, Australia (Feb. 14, 2013) -- Kiwi
phenomenon Lydia Ko
was “on fire” according to the World’s Number
1 player after she
fired a near-flawless 10-under par 63 to lead
the ISPS Handa
Women’s Australian Open by one stroke at
Royal Canberra Golf
Club, Yarralumla.
The 15 year-old, ranked Number 30 in the
world while still an
amateur, leads by one from Colombian Mariajo
Uribe at 9-under and
former Open runner-up and World Number 7
Jiyai Shin at 8-under
par in the season-opening event on the LPGA
Tour.
Ko said her star playing partners added to the
enjoyment in an
excellent round.
“Yeah it was fun out there, I mean when you
hit a good round it
makes it better, but Yani and Michelle, we had
a few good
conversations so I think that made it more
enjoyable,” Ko said.
“It (tomorrow) could go two ways, I could not
have a great round
tomorrow, or I could just follow up with a good
round, so I mean it's
quite hard to beat my round today, so
hopefully I can stay
consistent.”
Rolex World Number 1 Taiwanese Yani Tseng
finished in a tie for
seventh at 5-under par and said she enjoyed
watching her playing
partner light it up.
“I mean it was very fun to watch her play golf
today, I mean she
still looks fifteen, I don't know how she hits
the ball that well, I
didn't know. I wasn't even that close to her
when I was fifteen. It
is very interesting to see her play, and I really
enjoyed playing with
her today too. I think she pushed me up a little
bit too, at first she
made birdie and I mean, I don't want to lose, I
want to make birdie
too, trying to keep to her, but at 9 she was on
fire and I dropped
back, she was on fire,” Tseng said.
Katherine Hull-Kirk, Sarah-Jane Smith and
Kristie Smith are the best
of the Australians after 5-under par rounds of
68 in a tie for eighth.
Italian Giulia Sergas is the best of the
Europeans at 6-under par in
sixth place.
View results for Australian Women's Open
ABOUT THE Australian Women's Open
72 hole stroke play championship for professionals
and amateurs.
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