Home star Sarah Kemp produced a stunning bogey-free round of 64 (-7) during the second round of the Ford Women’s NSW Open.
The 40-year-old had to play 36 holes on Friday following a weather delay at Wollongong Golf Club due to heavy rain.
After an opening 69 (-3), Kemp followed up with a phenomenal 64 as she rolled in seven birdies to sit in second place on the leaderboard on nine-under-par as it stands.
“It feels great, it’s very unexpected and I’ll absolutely take it,” she said. “That was just some nice and solid golf. I really got it going on that second 18, I don’t know how, but it just all came together. It’s been nice to come back from an injury and to play like this is awesome.
“Honestly, that first 18 holes, I had some really bad cramps with about six [holes] to go and I finished and saw my parents and said I don’t even know if I could play the second 18. I went in and had some physio.
“I had heaps of salt, electrolytes, had three bananas. Thank goodness I didn’t have cramps on the second nine. All credit to Jasmine, the massage therapist in there. I think she did something to get me through that second 18.
“[When I was cramping] At that point my only expectation was to finish. Sometimes it’s a nice place to be because you’re not even focused on golf. I was just focused on, I’ve got 18 more holes to walk, I’m pretty proud right now.”
Kemp, who suffered a compound fracture of her leg in a freak golf cart accident in the summer of 2024, had surgery again in December.
The 12-time WPGA Tour of Australasia winner was returning to competition once again and really put her leg to the test playing rounds one and two in the same day.
She added: “I have not played 36 holes in one day for a long time. A U.S. Open qualifier maybe in April or March last year, which was terrible. This is my first round back after surgery in December, I was not expecting to have to walk 36 holes my first go, but I made it. I’m very happy.
“I want to finish 72 holes is what I’d really like to do. I’m pretty sure I can do it, so I’m just going to go in with the same mentality. Almost golf is second, then just focus on my leg and see if I can hold up the test.”
With half the field still to complete 36 holes, the second round of the Ford Women’s NSW Open will resume on Saturday morning at 7:30 local time.
Watch live and follow all the action across the Ford Women’s NSW Open on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube.
