Higo, Ogura tied at 6 under after Day 1 at Aussie Women's Am
1/15/2019 | by Golf Australia
see also: View results for Australian Women's Amateur, Wanneroo Golf Club
For Lion Higo, an opening 67 was a personal best and enough to get her a share of the lead in stroke-play qualifying
Higo, who turns 16 next weekend, fired a personal-best 6-under 67 at the picturesque Woodlands Golf Club to set the lead after the first of two days of stroke-play qualifying.
Seven birdies in her opening 12 holes paved the way for the Emerald Lakes member to set a new course record.
Japan’s Ogura, who finished T-4 in the stroke play last year, produced an equally brilliant 68 to match Higo’s morning pace.
But Higo will have an extra advantage up her sleeve when she crosses over to Spring Valley tomorrow after playing the Victorian Junior Masters at the same course only two weeks ago when she finished outright sixth.
And after remarkably one-putting her first six holes, Higo is hoping to go even lower tomorrow.
“In the practice rounds I thought the greens were pretty firm and all my iron shots were running off,” Higo said with a huge grin. “Today wasn’t too bad with the wind.”
The Queenslander was so engrossed in her round, she didn’t even realize her score until afterwards.
Higo only learned of her lead and course record from her father, her caddie, after the final hole.
“It’s actually my personal best, so I’m pretty happy,” she said. “In the tournaments that you are allowed a caddie, I get him to caddie. We make a good team.”
The next-best contender at Woodlands were Victoria’s Linley Ooi and Japan’s Chikako Sazuki.
At Spring Valley, a flurry of seven birdies from the seventh to 16th set up Japanese star Ogura with her share of the lead and a one-shot buffer from compatriot Yuri Yoshida and Victoria’s Steph Bunque with matching 69s.
The top 32 women after tomorrow’s second round of stroke play advance to the knockout match play phase beginning on Thursday morning.
Results: Australian Women's Amateur
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | , Korea | 1000 | ||
| Runner-up | , Japan | 700 | ||
| Semifinals | , Japan | 500 | ||
| Semifinals | , Australia | 500 | ||
| Quarterfinals | , Australia | 400 |
About the Australian Women's Amateur
The Australian Men's and Women's Amateur Championships are Australia's oldest Amateur Golf Championships, with both having been played since 1894. Long held as a match play event, in 2021 the format changed to 72 holes of stroke play.
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