KARRIE WEBB LEADS AT SENTOSA AFTER ROUND ONE OF HSBC WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
– Australian Karrie Webb leads the HSBC Women’s Champions by a single shot over American Paula Creamer and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall after a closely fought first round, played in breezy conditions, at Sentosa Golf Club.
The 2011 champion and Hall of Fame member, who enjoys a loyal following in Singapore, shot a 6-under par 66, including four birdies on the front nine and further two on the back, as she reproduced the kind form that saw her win her national open in Melbourne two weeks ago.
Speaking about her round, the world no. 7 said, “Well, actually, probably one of my most consistent ball striking days of the year. I hit 16 greens, which is the most greens I've hit this year in a round. Avoiding trying to get up and down on these greens is definitely a key to not making any bogeys.
“I think my key to the next three days is to play similarly to that but not expect that I'm going to shoot 6 under every day. If I do, I'll be very happy about that but just manage my game well and eliminate as many mistakes as possible.”
Another player who continues to excel on The Serapong is Paula Creamer. Having tied in third place last year, the American wasted no time in getting back in action, shooting five birdies to end the day tied in second place with a 5-under par 67.
Speaking after her round, which saw her playing alongside Lydia Ko and Jessica Korda, Creamer said, “I played well. I didn't hit the ball that great on the back side, but made some birdies, and you know, I really enjoy this golf course. It just fits my game really well and I love how it's playing really windy, makes it just so much tougher.
“Having a good tournament here last year is always nice coming into it, and you feel good, you feel good about the golf course. I love fast greens. I always have. I feel like you have to just be a little bit more creative, and it's not about just banging it in the back of the hole. I like that, and they were fast, my goodness,” added Creamer.
Alongside her is Caroline Hedwall, who topped the leader board earlier in the day. The Swede picked up two birdies on the front nine before enjoying a hot streak on holes 14,15 and 16, to end the day five under par.
Said Hedwall: “I played very solid and I think in the beginning of the round, I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities. I started to get impatient, and so my caddie helped me a lot, just telling me to stay focused and stay patient and they will start to fall and they did on 14 and 16 and I actually holed quite long putts.”
One shot further back, tied in fourth place are Teresa Lu from Taiwan and 2012 winner Angela Stanford from the US both of whom carded 4-under par 68. Lu is not an LPGA player but qualified for the tournament and a chance to compete for the US$ 1.4m purse courtesy of her victory at the 2013 Mizuno Classic.
Another player to finish inside the top ten is world no. 1 Inbee Park. The South Korean freely admits that The Serapong is a course that she has struggled to get to grips with in the way she has so many others, but will take confidence from a very solid start that saw her finish tied in seventh place with a 2-under par 70.
Meanwhile defending champion Stacy Lewis struggled with the conditions on the course that brought her victory last year, ending the day with a disappointing 3-over par 75, leaving her tied in 43rd place. Singapore’s qualifier Amanda Tan shot a 7-over par 79 to end the day in last place of the 63 player field. Having just turned fifteen earlier this month, Tan is the youngest player ever to qualify for the tournament and can take heart from a steady opening round. The teenager will benefit hugely from the experience of playing in such an elite event.
With The Serapong in perfect condition and a number of big name players contesting to be crowned ‘Champion of Champions’ there’s everything to play for at Sentosa. For more information on the HSBC Women’s Champions 2014, please visit the tournament website at http://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens
