Golf: 'Fantastic' NZ women golfers ninth

New Zealand climbed to a share of ninth place after the final round of the Espirito Santo world amateur women's teams golf championship in Puerto Rico yesterday.

Penny Newbrook, Claire Dury and Sarah Nicholson finished tied with Germany on 13-over-par 589 among a record 48 nations.

They were 22 shots behind the winners, Sweden. Canada and the United States were jointly second on 570.

It is the first time for a decade that New Zealand have finished inside the top 10: they finished eighth in France in 1994. They finished ahead of a number of major golfing nations, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Australia, who were 16th, eight shots behind the New Zealanders.

New Zealand closed with their best round of the tournament yesterday, a one-over 145 for the two best counting scores, led by a second consecutive sub-par round from Dury.

United States-based Dury shot a one-under 71. Newbrook, of Rotorua, three-putted the last for 74 and Wellingtonian Nicholson shot a non-counting 76.

Dury, who is on a golf scholarship at Berkeley University, was a late inclusion in the side when she was called in to replace Enu Chung, who the selectors felt had not been playing enough golf to risk taking to the world championship.

Dury finished in a share of 19th among 144 individuals on six-over 294. Newbrook tied for 40th and Nicholson was 44th equal.

Their performance was a sharp improvement on the 20th placing New Zealand managed two years ago in Malaysia and it delighted national coach Geoff Smart.

"It was a fantastic team performance right through the tournament," Smart said. "A number of teams have one outstanding individual, which distorted their position a little. But we have three players who played steadily the whole week.

"None of them played out of their skins at any stage, although they are all capable of low numbers.

"They were very consistent, they stuck to their guns and fought all the way. I am very proud of their professional approach, their course management and how they conducted themselves.

"And they reaped the rewards for their hard work. It is a fantastic effort to finish ninth from 48 counties.

"There were some very big golfing nations who finished behind them."

Smart said it was the beginning of the emergence of the development programme put in place five years ago with this young group of players.

"We are starting to see something out the other end of the programme and some reward for persevering with our young talent."

Swede Karin Sjodin and Paraguayan Julieta Granada were the leading individuals on eight-under 280, four clear of American Jane Park.


- NZPA