- Golf NSW photo
Grace Kim has claimed some redemption for last year’s loss with an outstanding performance in the final of the New South Wales (NSW) Women’s Amateur Championship.
Kim took the crown with a superb 3 & 2 win over Kelsey Bennett in titanic battle between the state team mates.
The match was anyone's after the completion of the opening 18, but Kim took control early in the afternoon bracket, jumping out to a telling two hole lead after the 20th.
A tenacious Bennett wasn’t going away however, and fought tooth and nail to stay in the match as the holes went by.
Kim however had other ideas, and in a testament to her experience and quality did what was required to stay in front.
Wins on the 12 and 13th holes for Kim were always going to make things difficult for Bennett, however she responded with one of the shots of the day, on the 14th, hitting her approach to about a foot to keep the match within reach.
Kim had a chance to seal the match on the par three 15th, but there putt slid by. it was enough to go dormie, and from there it was going to be a battle for the Bennett the St. Michael’s local.
The 16th hole became the decider. After both players hit the green, Kim had her chance to seal it with a long range putt for birdie, it missed, and left Bennett with her chance to keep the contest alive. Sadly for there 20 year old, her 8 footer slid by, and with it the match was Kim’s.
Kim was ecstatic after the victory.
“Second time is a charm,” she grinned. ” I was pretty confident I could get it done today.”
” I knew I could compete, Kelsey played good and I knew how good I had to play to beat her.”
The win is Kims’s first State Championship and she was thrilled to know her name joins a list of many of Australia’s finest female players.
” I know Karrie has won this event and she is a hero of mine, so it is exciting to see my name engraved on a trophy with hers.
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.
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