Smith beats injury to defend title
Friends qualify for NZ Open
GOLF
Kevin Tutty Kristie Smith was looking forward to a landmark season after winning the New Zealand Women’s Open tournament at the Pegasus course last year.
The win gave her a two-year exemption onto the Ladies’ European Tour and impetus, at 22, to her burgeoning professional career.
But by mid-year the hope had turned to despair, as injury struck and forced Smith off the fairways for long periods.
She had bursitis in her right shoulder, not the injury a golfer needs, and she also had an inflamed wrist,a continuing injury that Smith manages.
The native of Western Australia managed second in the Swiss Open, before injury struck, but the rest of the year was pretty much a series of frustrations.
But with time off and careful rehabilitation, Smith is back playing injury free, and looking forward to defending her title when the 54-hole open starts at the Pegasus course this morning.
‘‘It’s obviously nice to have positive memories coming back here. I’ve always played well here and I’m looking forward to defending the title. That’s something you don’t get to do very often,’’ Smith said.
The injuries last year kept Smith out of the game for ‘‘a few months here and there’’.
‘‘I probably tried to play too much instead of looking after the body but now I’m working hard with my trainer and physio and playing injury free.’’
Smith’s memory of the final round last year was telling herself that par golf would be a good score with a strong northeasterly wind blowing. She said the same tactics would apply if the prevailing wind blew again this week.
‘‘You just have to minimise your mistakes.’’
The course might be a little bit easier this year, Smith said.
‘‘It seems a bit softer this year so the scoring might improve.’’
The front nine would be where players scored well, but the back nine was the more difficult, Smith said.
‘‘The par fives on the front nine are birdie chances but there are still tough holes. Seven and eight are not easy and the back nine is a lot harder with 11 through to 17 all really tough holes, even more so if the wind is blowing.’’
Although she is defending champion Smith says she feels no pressure.
‘‘Obviously, as defending champion the public might be watching, but I’ve got low expectations, and it will be nice for the spotlight to be on Lydia [Ko] and the other girls,’’ Smith said.
Smith and Ko played in the same group at the Australian Masters two weeks ago, and Smith was impressed with the young New Zealander’s play.
‘‘She’s a putter.
‘‘If she gets it [the ball] near the pin she will score low.’’
Smith will play in one of the key groups this morning with another top
bit like a robot with that New Zealand amateur, Cecilia Cho, and Felicity Johnson (England), teeing off at 8.30.
Ko will play with Sarah Kemp (Australia) and Becky Brewerton (Wales) starting at 8.20. Sylvie Williams and Georgia Wayman, who have both come through the junior ranks together from the Waimairi Beach Golf Club to the Canterbury team, today find themselves lining up to play in their first New Zealand Open tournament.
The 19-year-olds, who are great friends, were two of the four players who qualified at the Russley Golf Club on Monday for the 54-hole ISPS Handasponsored tournament, which starts this morning at the Pegasus club at Woodend.
Qualifying for the open though produced a small problem for both players. After they qualified, Williams with a 76 and Wayman with a 77, an official examined their clubs and found they did not conform to the regulations required for a Ladies’ European Tour event. The grooves on the irons of their clubs allow more spin to be imparted on the ball.
The glitch forced Williams and Wayman to hurriedly find clubs that did comply and they have had only two days to get used to the clubs before they tee off today.
‘‘I’m so excited. It will be such a good experience,’’ Williams said.
Wayman, the last to qualify, will be fulfilling a dream of playing in the Open.