(Southport, Merseyside, England – July 28 2005) Korean Jeong Jang fired a six under par 66 to extend her lead to four shots in the second round of the £1.05million Weetabix Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale GC.
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| Louise Stahle |
“I wanted to turn professional before this tournament obviously, but I had my invitation from the British amateur in June. So I had to stay amateur and obviously you want to play,” she said.
Her defence of this year’s British Ladies Amateur Championship at Littlestone Golf Club in Kent earned her an exemption into the Weetabix Women’s British Open this week.
Having previously won the Ladies British Amateur in 2004, at Gullane GC in Scotland, with her win, she became the first player to defend the title since Mickey Walker in 1972.
Stahle also claimed victory with the Swedish team at the World Amateur Team Championship in 2004.
Having just finished her freshman year at Arizona State University in the United States where she recorded three victories; at the Wildcat Invitational, the PING/ASU Invitational and the Pac-10 Championships, Stahle was named both Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in women’s collegiate golf for the 2005 season.
She became the first player since Lorena Ochoa (2001) to win both awards in the same season and Sorenstam also achieved the feat, in 1991.
“Annika was always my idol,” admitted Stahle, who carded seven birdies in her second round at Birkdale.
“She went to the rival school in Tucson (University of Arizona) It was a great freshman year.”
In the calmer conditions out in the second round today at Birkdale, Stahle carded seven birdies, at the first, fourth, fifth, 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th holes.
“I had a good pairing, I think that’s one of the keys. I played with Juli (Inkster) and Laura (Diaz), and they were really nice to me. Yeah, I’m really happy,” said Stahle.
“There was hardly any wind today. Some holes maybe one or two clubs but definitely a lot easier today with no rain. I thought the putting in general was the key today.”
“I feel this is like St Andrews, more bumpy than I thought it would be.”
A total of 65 players and ties head into the third round tomorrow and the cut fell at five over par.
