ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
Royal Canberra Golf Club
Yarralumla, Australia
February 16, 2012
Jiyai Shin, -17, Rolex Rankings No. 8
Lydia Ko, -17, Rolex Rankings No. 30
Lydia Ko Continues to Show her Dominant Play
It is very difficult to continue to say teem phenom Lydia Ko continues to play lights out and dominate her ultimate competitor ‘old man par’. Why?? Because she is only 15!!! When I was 15, I love to play, did lots of great things on the course…but nothing nearly as dramatic or professional-like. She carries herself like a tour veteran that is ready to take down the 2013 season with multiple wins, scoring records and awards galore! Funny thing….she is an amateur!! Amazing young lady to say the least!!
Lydia Ko (Rolex Ranking No. 30) and Jiyai Shin (Rolex Ranking No. 8) share the 54 hole lead at the ISPA Handa Women’s Australian Open. Each posted a solid 18 hole round of 3-under 70 on Saturday to finish at a whopping 17-under and take a commanding lead over the entire field. Closest competitor is Spaniard Beatriz Recari who is 6 shots back!!!
Will the final round set up to be a two player shoot out?? Will the field get hot and catch Shin and Ko down the stretch?? This is going to be a great finish!!!
What is Ko thinking going into the Final Round
Ko says that she will feel a bit more comfortable playing with a big name on the LPGA Tour and one who she’s played with before. Ko gets the chance to be paired up with Shin for the second time, the first coming in the final round at last year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open where Ko became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history. Ko welcomes any opportunity to tee it up with a great player so she can continue to grow with the game and learn from the best. Is she for real?? Wow, now that is a mature young lady.
Shin had mentioned on Friday that she and Ko have parallel games in that they are accurate ball strikers and cool under pressure. Ko had something to add to the similarities. Ko caught win of it and with great humor to add to her awesome demeanor on the course, she says, “Well they say we look alike too (laughs).
Ko is excited to learn from Shin from the first until the last tee. Don’t mistaken the thinking…this ‘kid’ want’s to win and blow away the field. And what is even more amazing from this young sensation, she doesn’t even feel like she is playing her best this week. Actually, she felt that her game was more together last year in Vancouver.
“No, I think when I played the best was at the Canadian Open,” said Ko. “I mean, that week – and I didn’t really feel the pressure of wanting to win because it was an LPGA event and I was like, oh, like I’d win, I was thinking that. So yeah even up until the last hole I didn’t know that I would win, so in that kind of situation it was pretty much when I was hitting the best.”
Let’s not count out Shin
Jiyai Shin setting up putt for birdie
Jiyai Shin had the fortunate opportunity to see Lydia Ko in action and at her best at last year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open and finished five shots behind Ko. But Shin’s confidence in her game and play throughout the week leads her to think she can handle the pressures of the gallery and feels the pairing is just what she needs to play top golf on Sunday!
“Well, I really look forward to tomorrow because I really enjoy the last three rounds,” said Shin. “And then I know I’ll play a really young golfer (laughs). But I have more experience than her, so I just, I have a really good feeling with my swing and tempo, so I just give focus to each of my shots.”
Looks like Shin is heading into the final round with solid mental confidence. She certainly has not ignored Ko’s fabulous and spot on play the past three rounds, but is not letting it deter from her goal of a victory.
Yesterday during the press conference, Shin adds, “Well I think she have enough experience too (laughs) because she played great last week and then last year also, and I know how she hit it great and she putting is really good,” said Shin. “So, I think I really, I think tomorrow will be really good competition for us.”
Who will be knocking on Ko and Shin’s Door
While most eyes will be set on the lead group tomorrow, a phenomenal group of players trail including six players within eight shots. It’s not an impossible task to catch Shin and Ko as the course this week is set up for players to attack the par 5s with more than plenty birdie opportunities throughout the track.
Let’s not forget Rolex Player of the Year, Stacy Lewis, had the biggest comeback win of the year last season of 7 shots at the Mizuno Classic, while three players hold the all-time record of 10 strokes, most recently by Louise Friberg at the 2008 MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta Presented by Nextel.
Mariajo Uribe will not be knocking too hard on the door as she had a rough day at the office in the third round. Uribe lost a little of the fire and looked a bit out of sorts in comparison to her first two rounds and finished with seven bogeys, including three consecutive on the back nine. Uribe finished +5 and dropped to T4, trailing Shin and Ko by eight strokes.
Quote of the Day: Lydia Ko on whether she looks at the money she’s not cashing in by keeping her amateur status.
“I don’t really care anymore because I’m an amateur. I’m not going to get it anyway, so what’s the point?” Now that is one mature young player!!!
Lydia Ko shows her focused and determined look
Final Thoughts
So, Bunkers Nation, who do you think will end up in the winners circle?? It is gonna be a great and exciting finish. Will the amateur dominate the veterans? Or will we see a historic comeback of epic proportions??
Keep your eyes here to see what happens!! Regardless, these girls can play!!
‘keep smiling and always believe’
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