(Rome, Italy – June 4 2005) Denmark’s Iben Tinning and Asa Gottmo from Sweden share the lead heading into the final round of the €300, 000 BMW Ladies Italian Open at Sheraton Golf Parco de’ Medici.
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| Asa Gottmo from Sweden |
“It all came back today,” admitted the two-time Solheim Cup player, who competed in the event in 2002 and 2003.
“I made two long putts on 16 and 17. On 17 I had a horrible tee shot so I was lucky to get on the green and when I made the putt I just couldn’t believe it. I found my rhythm today – that was the key.”
Tinning, a three time winner on the LET, admitted that she had been struggling over the previous two rounds.
“There are a lot of opportunities out on this course and over the last couple of days I’ve been missing them. A lot of putts lipped out this morning but I told myself to be patient and it paid off.
“I’m going to see my coach James Petts on Monday because my swing’s been a little shaky over the past couple of days but my swing was better today and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Gottmo, whose sole win on the LET came at the 2002 Wales WPGA Championship of Europe, was very happy with her 67.
“I had a really steady day today and I’ve been having a good season,” said the 33-year-old from Kalmar.
“I had to retire from the ANZ Masters early in the season because of back and neck problems. I couldn’t move and I didn’t swing a golf club for two or three weeks, but I had good finishes in Thailand and in Spain.
“I’ve been practising in Stockholm for two weeks with my coach Richard Nilsson, but my main priority is to take care of myself,” she admitted, after receiving help from fellow LET player Sophie Renell from Sweden, who acted as her caddy in the third round.
Eberl, who had a mixed round with five birdies and five bogeys, was tired but philosophical.
“I had a good first nine but struggled with my putts and the wind was swirling around,” explained the 23-year-old from Munich.
“But I stood on 18th tee and thought, ‘come on, one more hole to go, and there was nothing I wanted to do more than birdie that hole.’
“The other girls took drivers but I kept with the four wood that I’ve used every other day and it came off.
“I had people calling me yesterday that I haven’t heard from for a long time – but I was leading after only the second round. It’s like saying that a football match is over after 45 minutes.
“I quite like being a shot behind in a way because now I can chase and not be chased tomorrow. I had a good final round with a 69 in Vienna and I enjoy playing the last round more than the third.”
Zorzi’s 67 included three birdies, one bogey and a crucial eagle at the third hole where she chipped in from the greenside bunker.
“I started birdie, par, eagle, so I was feeling pretty confident after that,” said the 24-year-old from Verona, who aims to become the first Italian to win the national title.
“I have a lot of confidence in my game and if I win tomorrow I will make history so it will be emotional.”
Zorzi has had an excellent third season on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour and is currently placed fourth on the LET Money list. She finished third at the ANZ Masters in Australia fifth last week at the Siemens Austrian Ladies Golf Open, where her compatriot Federica Piovano took the title. She credited her rise in form to two years of work with sports psychologist Massimo Giugini in Milan.
