Golf: Hole-in-one as Belen Mozo dominates NZ Open

Belen Mozo celebrates a hole in one. Photo / Photosport

A Belen Mozo hole-in-one underlined her dominance in the second round of the McKayson New Zealand Women's Open at Windross Farm.

The 29-year-old Spaniard swung a seven-iron, drew the ball into the pin, and had the ball roll into the cup on the 149m par-3 13th.

She celebrated by kissing the Infiniti car on display, which players can win if they shoot an ace... on the weekend.

"That's karma, I should never do that," Mozo said. "The same thing happened when I thought I'd won a watch last year. I've only had five holes-in-one in professional tournaments."

Mozo secured eight birdies, an eagle and a double bogey to finish with an eight-under-par 64 for the day and leave her 14-under for the tournament.

At one stage the round looked like assuming Kim Jong-Il proportions*, but reality bit on the 17th when her ball got thirsty.

"I don't like to play when it's dark. Thank the Lord I wear prescriptions [glasses] now because before that I couldn't see and I'd get really stressed because your control goes.

"I got too quick and I wasn't aware the water was that close. I had an unlucky drop - I was so stupid - I didn't even have a stance to chip it up from.

"My brother will laugh at me because he always says I'm terrible at dropping. But I fought for the double bogey, and got it."

Mozo took advantage of calm afternoon conditions - in contrast to the opening round - and worked her way into what could be an unassailable position with two rounds to play.

"When you score like this everything seems so easy. I got perfect weather but, you still have to perform well. I left myself makeable putts, and struck the ball in a calm state of mind.

"In a way I was pleased to have a bit of up-and-down in the back nine to get me going for the weekend. The first day and front nine were perfect so I was happy getting a taste of what it feels like to suffer to make pars."

The record finish at an LPGA-sanctioned event is 22-under-par by Karen Stupples at the Welch's/Fry's Championship in Phoenix, Arizona during 2004.

The 36-hole record belongs to Annika Sorenstam from the 2001 Standard Register Ping tournament in Tucson, Arizona where she was 20-under-par.

There was a three-way tie for second at nine-under-par between overnight leader Brooke Henderson, Emily Tubert and Madelene Sagstrom.

Lydia Ko was the best of the New Zealanders, shooting a four-under-par 68 to go to six-under overall in front of a benevolent gallery.

Her key moment came on the par-5 fifth hole, when she hit a 3-wood into a hazard and took a penalty stroke. She recovered a par.

"They moved the tee forward a bit to make the green more reachable, but my recovery gave me confidence going into the next hole. That was the momentum changer for me."

Ko birdied the next and secured three more on the back nine in a bogey-free round with the wind and rain failing to live up to expectations.

"The front nine was more of a grind... but I knew some players would be ripping up the course.

"You could say I was fortunate with the draw, but things like that are out of your control.
"Seeing the putts go in helps mentally. Little things like that can end up being bigger as the round goes on."

Amateur Amelia Garvey was the next best of the locals, shooting one-under-par to be three-under overall.

"It's awesome to be able to play more than two rounds and get the full experience at an LPGA event."

The cut was one-over-par and the weekend will be contested by 78 players. Ko tees off at 11.16am; the leading group starts at midday.

*The late North Korean leader allegedly shot a 38-under-par round of 34, including 11 holes-in-one, in his first attempt at golf in 1994.