Karrie Webb produced one
of the great closing rounds in Australian golf to snare her first Australian
Open title at Yarra Yarra, Melbourne, today.
The world No.1 fired a course record nine-under-par 64 to stay clear of fellow
Queenslander Rachel Hetherington who made six straight birdies in a late bid
to reel her in.
Webb's 22-under total of
270 following earlier rounds of 71-66-69 was believed to be a tournament record,
although officials could not confirm it, and was enough for a three-stroke win
from Hetherington with British star Laura Davies third two shots further back.
With six victories on the
US LPGA Tour last year alone, including her first major, and two British Open
titles already to her name, Webb was still desperate to win her own national
championship.
"It has to be definitely
right up there," Webb said today.
"The Australian Masters
was the first time I won in Australia, but it felt really good today just walking
down the last hole knowing that I'm going to win the Australian Open.
"It does rank up there
as one of the most special."
Webb started the day with
a two-shot lead and it was Davies who posed the biggest threat early until Hetherington
unleashed her birdie burst at the 10th.
Webb picked up shots at
the third and fourth holes to stretch her lead over Davies to four shots but
by the 10th she trailed the Englishwoman by one.
Birdies at the 11th, 13th
and 14th holes followed by a key up and down save for par at the 15th sent her
back in front.
She demoralised her pursuers
with a chip-in from 15 metres for an eagle at the par five 16th then, just to
be sure, closed with two birdies.
"Just to close like
that and know that Laura and especially Rachel, who shot 29 on the back nine...I
just had to keep at it. I don't think either of us knew what we shot on the back
nine," said Webb.
Despite her dominance of
women's golf, Webb said she was never complacent.
"You can never say
there's no room for improvement," she said.
"Right now I'm definitely
on a high and sometimes it's hard to find areas you need to improve on.
"I always work really
hard. This week I know the practice has really paid off."
Webb said that she kept
her achievements constantly in the front of her mind to call on.
"When things aren't
going that well, I just have to look at what I've done and the success I've had
and what it's given me and you soon stop thinking about having a bad week here
and there," she said.
Webb collected $A58,000
for her victory.
270 K Webb 71 66 69 64 (22,000)
273 R Hetherington 70 70
68 65 (14,000)
275 L Davies (Gbr) 69 70
70 66 (8,500)
279 C Nilsmark (Swe) 68
74 70 67
282 W Doolan 73 68 69 72
283 S Dallongville (Fra)
72 72 72 67
284 S Head (Gbr) 74 73
71 66
285 V Van Ryckgehem (Bel)
70 70 73 72
286 Y Kim (South Korea)
71 73 74 68 287 - M Monnet (France) 70 74 74 69, L Maritz (South Africa) 76 68
72 71, N Fink (Austria) 68 73 74 72, L Brooky (NZ) 71 73 71 72, W S Ko (South
Korea) 71 73 70 73, S-Y Park (Kor) 71 71 72 73
288 K Robbins (USA) 69
71 77 71
289 H Dobson (Gbr) 75 74
7169, S-Y Kang (Kor) 71 71 75 72, C Dibnah 72 72 73 72, A Munt 72 70 71 76
290 T Johnson (Gbr) 74
72 75 69, W Dicks (Gbr) 71 77 73 69, G Sergas (Ita) 74 73 73 70, K Taylor (Gbr)
73 74 73 70, D Barnard (Gbr) 72 72 75 71, K Pearce 70 71 77 72, C Byrnes 68 75
70 77
291 N Lowien 74 74 73 70,
T Fischer (Ger) 72 70 77 71, J Mills 70 74 75 72, M Ellis 73 74 72 72
292 N Moult (Gbr) 76 73
73 70, M Lunn 70 77 73 72
293 H-S Park (Kor) 71 76
75 71, A Rogers (Irl) 70 73 75 75, H Hopkins 71 68 76 78
294 S Mehra (Ind) 77 69
76 72, J Leary 74 75 74 71, V Stensrud (Nor) 72 76 73 73, L Hed (Swe) 70 69 78
