(Salamander Bay, Australia, February 14 2003) Tour rookie Tamara Hyett from Australia takes a four shot cushion heading into the third round of the Contrabart ALPG Players Championship after repeating her opening round of 68 in the hot, yet breezy conditions on Friday at Horizons GC.
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After sharing the overnight lead with fellow Antipodeans Rachel Teske and Melissa Bransdon, Hyett took full advantage of the rain-softened greens early on the second morning and began firing at the flags.
Starting at the tenth, she birdied her opening hole, and reached nine under when after holing out for eagle with a seven iron at the par four 11th.
“It never looked like missing,” chuckled Hyett, who gained the seventh card at the European Tour school.
Further birdies came at the 18th, first, second and ninth and one of the hottest prospects for the European Tour rookie of the year award was “stoked” after her round.
“It feels nice to be right up there and it’s a great lead up to the next two big events,” she added.
“I’ve never played in the ANZ Masters, so I am looking forward to it. I don’t mind playing in front of big crowds as it makes me focus harder on my game.
“The greens were pretty soft this morning and I just fired straight at the pins. My course management has improved a lot, I knew I had to do that when I turned pro and ‘Lynchy’, (her coach, Dale Lynch) has got me thinking better on the course.”
Joint first round leader Teske had a 77 during a tough round on the greens and admitted suffering with her concentration levels. Bransdon slipped to an 81.
England’s Laura Davies is nine shots adrift after a 74 and defending champion Paula Marti from Spain is ten back, also posting 74.
Leading qualifiers (Aus unless stated) (Par 73): 136 – Tamara Hyett 68 68 140 – Georgina Simpson (Gbr) 69 71, Julie Forbes (Gbr) 69 71 142 – Loraine Lambert 69 73, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 72 70, Carlie Butler 72 70, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 72 70 143 – Joanne Mills 72 71, Samantha Head (Gbr) 73 70 144 – Anne-Marie Knight 73 71, Nadina Taylor 73 71, Nicole Stillig (Ger) 74 70, Trish Johnson (Gbr) 72 72, Valerie van Ryckeghem (Bel) 73 71 145 – Becky Morgan (Gbr) 73 72, Iben Tinning (Den) 73 72, Marine Monnet (Fra) 70 75, Laura Davies (Gbr) 71 74, Rachel Teske 68 77, Johanna Head 74 71 146 – Miriam Nagl (Ger) 72 74, Michelle Ellis 74 72, Natascha Fink (Aut) 75 71, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 74 72, Kathryn Marshall (Gbr) 74 72, Paula Marti (Spa) 72 74, Joanne Morley (Gbr) 74 72 147 – Nicola Moult (Gbr) 72 75, Nancy Harvey (Usa) 76 71, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 75 72, Marnie McGuire (Nzl) 74 73, Stefania Croce (Ita) 75 72, Rebecca Stevenson 74 73, Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 75 72 Other GB and I qualifiers: 149 – Dale Reid (Gbr) 75 74 150 – Caroline Hall 75 75, Kirsty Taylor 74 76 GB and I non-qualifiers: 151 – Alison Nicholas 78 73 152 – Kirsty Fisher 77 75, Eleanor Pilgrim 74 78 153 – Diane Barnard 76 77 154 – Sarah Bennett 77 77 156 – Kirsty S Taylor 79 77 160 – Wendy Dicks 80 80 163 – Rachel Bailey 85 78
