LIFE GETS SWEETER FOR KAY
‘BEST ROUND EVER’:
GOLD Coast’s Becky Kay has fired the round of her life – and won herself a handful of chocolate treats – to start the race for a rare exemption into the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 20-year-old yesterday produced eight birdies in a sizzling 12-hole opening to her eight-under64 for the lead at the Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur in Japan.
Finishing on top of a world-class field after another 54 holes at The Royal Golf Club carries huge reward with invitations to the Women’s British Open and The Evian Championship as well.
“I guess it is the round of my life,” said Kay, who last year famously became the first female to compete in the men’s Queensland Open tournament.
“I’ve only had sevenunder before this so eightunder is pretty special.
“It was the first round of a huge tournament so I’m really stoked just to be in contention now and to battle out the next three days.”
Yet the day got even sweeter, with Kay revealing she treated herself to a snack for every one-under hole.
“I started off with my first two birdies (I had a bite of the chocolate bar),” she laughed.
“So then every time after my birdies I had a snack of my chocolate bar.
“I think it was a chocolate bar because I don’t know what I’m eating here. But it was yum.”
After a six-under on the front nine, Kay admits she started to look at the leaderboard during her round.
“I’d like to think that I wasn’t (watching the scoreboard) but it’s always there and I think it’s good,” she said.
“As long as I stick to my game then that’s fine.”
Kay revealed her putting was behind the birdie blitz.
“On this course, it’s so slopey and so fast and if you miss the putt you are fourfeet past and have a slippery one (tough shot) coming back,” she said.
“I holed the putts I needed to hole.”
Kay was unsure if she has previously held any other course records.