(Turnberry, August 10 2002) Sweden’s Carin Koch vowed to make sure she will look at the scoreboards during the final round of the £1,000,000 Weetabix Women’s British Open at Turnberry as she tries to fend off the challenge of the younger players to win her first major championship.
The 31-year-old Solheim Cup star carded a third successive four under par 68 to share the lead on 12 under alongside Jenny Rosales from the Philippines, who rattled off a course record equalling seven under par 65.
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| Rosales – surprised! |
However, Koch made her intentions of winning her first major championship clear with a 30 foot birdie at the final hole to make sure she played in the final group.
“I thought I played pretty steady overall,” added Koch, who shares the lead going into the final round of a major for the first time.
“This is what I play for, what I practice for and hopefully, I feel good tomorrow. To be in the last group on any occasion, but especially a major in Europe, I mean, I can’t think of a better position to be in.” Rosales stormed up the field with an error free front nine of 32, with birdies at the third, sixth, seventh and ninth, adding another at the tough par three 11th from eight feet.
At the 16th, the 23-year-old from Manila rolled in a nine footer and equalled Candie Kung’s course record with a six-foot putt at the 17th.
“I’m really surprised,” said Rosales, who could become the first player form the Philippines to win a major championship.
“I felt really good this week hitting my drives in the fairways and being where I want to be and hit as many greens as I have done.”
And having never been in the final round before, the diminutive American-based player admitted to being more excited than nervous.
“I am looking forward to getting experience and tomorrow, we’ll see what happens.”
Gulbis, a rookie professional with all the attributes required for International stardom did herself the power of good by moving up the leaderboard with a round that belied her age and experience.
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| Paula – two shots is nothing |
Marti began her day aggressively with birdies at the second and eighth to move to nine under par and a share of the lead. But having hit a perfect three iron to the par three sixth, she was horrified to see it slip all the way down the hill and bogey resulted.
A fiery three putt at the eighth upset her further, but the two time winner on The Evian Tour rallied to post important birdies at the ninth, 14th and 17th to keep her in contention for the £155,000 first prize.
“I am getting more confident day by day and I am gonna go for everything tomorrow, conditions were great, and you cannot ask for better weather, but for me personally, I would really like it blow more tomorrow,” said Marti.
“Whatever happens, I am going deep! Two shots is nothing around this course and it’s still there to win.”
With 15 players from six different countries within four shots of the lead around a Scottish links course, Marti has a valid point.
