Local knowledge pays off in St Valentine¨s Day

Scramble at Hacienda del Alamo Festival

Local knowledge paid off for the villa owners in today's St Valentine's Day Ambrose Scramble in the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival at Murcia, Spain.
The four prize-winning groups all own property at the five-star resort.
The leading net totals were:

58.1 Joel Dehove, Christopher King, Frank Knighton, Andrew Long (4.9).

58.6 Graham Shiels, Sheila Shiels, Billy Sim, Gina Sim (8.4)

59.6 Elaine McBride, Ronald Taylor, Laurence Perrier, Dawn Hincks (9.4).

59.9 Robert S Atkinson, Kelvin Rhodes, Beverly Rhodes Christine S Atkinson (11.1)

Festival competitors´ net totals included

62.5 Stephen Haskins, Robert I Burrows, Natalia Svezdina, Sandra Hendrickx (9.5); Charlie Douglass, Anthony Hughes, Charlotte Dalton (0.5).

62.6 Michelle McCarthy, Eadaoin Cronin, Shula McCarthy, Gema McCarthy (7.4); Ian McLean, Paul Coopey, Craig Thompson, Kam Cheema 10.4.

64.1 Douglas Lowe, Terry Sidey, Nick Rodger (7.9).

64.2 Lien Willems, Margot Habets, Caroline Harper (3.8).

64.3 Laura Harvey, Alan Quarterman, Dana Greenslade (1.7).

64.5 Amy Boulden, Di Hudson, Sonia Graham (4.5); Ellis Keenan, Cara Gruber, Campbell Thompson 4.5

66 Mary MacLaren, Meghan MacLaren, Rebecca Gee (2).

66.6 Sarah Smith, Amelia Taylor, Laura Tuttle, Trevor Taylor 6.4

67.3 Marcella Tuttle, Claire Tuttle, John Tuttle 5.7

68.3 Mary McKenna, Patricia Morris, Fionnuala Forde (4.7).

68.8 Lizzie Stephens, Ben Chapman, Charlotte Humphries 5.2

Finn wins Spanish seniors title

Final totals from the Spanish senior women´s open amateur championship:

150 Minna Kaarnalahti (Finland) 77 73.
152 Marta Estany (Spain) 80 72.
153 Diane Williams (Canada) 75 78.
154 Christina Birke (Sweden) 77 77, Milagros Yanes (Spain= 76 78, Cornelia Schmidt-Stutzle (Germany)76 78, Maria Torrens (Spain) 75 79.
155 Vicky Pertierra (Spain) 78 77, Marilyn Henderson (Northern Ireland) 78 77.
Selected scores
157 Valerie Hassett (Ire) 77 80, Roz Adams (Eng) 82 77.
162 Pamela Williamson (Sco) 83 79, Vivien Saunders (Eng) 83 79
164 Vicki Thomas (Wales) 84 80.
165 Susan Westall (Eng) 81 84.
166 Pamela Morgan (Ire) 86 80.
169 Janice Paterson (Sco) 83 86.
180 Barbara Biggart (Sco) 89 81

2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women´s Winter Festival

Champions of Murcia! Left to right, Charlie Douglass, Hayley Davis and Mary McKenna (Cal Carson Golf Agency image)

Good Old Charlie! Douglass pips

Dalton, Keenan for Murcia title

Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) is the first winner of the Murcia Ladies Open title at the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women´s Winter Festival in very sunny Spain over the past three days.
Charlie had rounds of 74 and 78 for a 36-hole total of 152 over the testing Dave Thomas designed course.
She won the championship trophy by one shot from Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) who scored 78 and 75.
Third was Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale) with 76 and 78 for 154.
Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) won the premier handicap award with net rounds of 72 and 77 for 149, playing off four of a handicap.
Irish legend Mary McKenna (Donabate) won the senior title with scores of 84 and 80 for 164.
The Murcia Under-16 girls´ championship was won by Hayley Davis (Ferndown) by two shots from her good friend Hannah Turland (Tidworth).
Hayley had rounds of 77 and 74 for 151, overtaking Hannah, the first round leader with a 73, over the second round.
Young Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer), who has slashed her handicap from 16 to seven over the past 12 months, won the Under-16 girls´ handicap top prize with net ronds of 69 and 76 for 145.

ALL THE SCORES FROM FIRST TOURNAMENT

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, Murcia, Spain
Dave Thomas-designed course: 5,534 metres (Red Tees). Par 72

Thursday, Friday, February 12-13, 2009
Weather: Glorious sunshine, blue skies both days

MURCIA LADIES OPEN

SCRATCH TOTALS
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 74 78 152
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) 78 75 153
Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale) 76 78 154
Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 79 78 157
Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) 76 81 157
Sharon Hewer (Royal Birkdale) 87 81 168
Zoe Fitz-Costa (Beaconsfield) 88 84 172
Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) 87 85 172
Dana Greenslade (Wentworth) 87 86 173
Margo Habets (Belgium) 89 91 180
Fionnuala Forde (Donabate) 94 90 184
Natalia Zvezdina (Belgium) 115 99 214
Caroline Harper (Belgium) 101 115 216
Sandra Hendrickx (Belgium) 113 Ret ----
Shula McCarthy (Clonmel) 101 Wd ----
Prizewinners: 1 (400 Euros voucher + trophy) Charlie Douglass
2 (250 Euros voucher) Charlotte Dalton.
3 (150 Euros voucher) Ellis Keenan.

HANDICAP TOTALS
Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) (2) 76 73 149
Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) (4) 72 77 149
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) (scr) 74 78 152
Ellis Keenan (Sunningdale) (scr) 76 78 154
Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) (1) 78 77 155
Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel) (8) 79 77 156
Sharon Hewer (Royal Birkdale) (5) 82 76 158
Zoe Fitz-Costa (Beaconsfield) (6) 82 78 160
Dana Greenslade (Wentworth) (5) 82 81 163
Natalia Zvezdina (Belgium) (20) 95 79 174
Sonia Graham (Royal Guernsey) (16) 89 89 178
Diana Hudson (Royal Guernsey) (9) 88 90 178
Caroline Harper (Belgium) (16) 85 99 184
Sandra Hendrickx (Belgium) (20) 93 Ret ----
Shula McCarthy (Clonmel) (19) 82 Wd ----

Prizewinners: 1 (200 Euros voucher) Anna Carling.
2 (100 Euros voucher) Cara Gruber.
3 (75 Euros voucher) Michelle McCarthy.
4 (50 Euros voucher) Sharon Hewer
5 (Glenmuir towel + 30 Euros voucher) Zoe Fitz-Costa.
6 (Glenmuir socks + 20 Euros voucher) Dana Greenslade

MURCIA SENIOR LADIES OPEN

SCRATCH TOTALS
Mary McKenna (Donabate) 84 80 164
Patricia Morris (Donabate) 85 93 178
Diana Hudson (Royal Guernsey) 97 99 196
Sonia Graham (Royal Guernsey) 105 105 210
Kam Cheema (Red Libbets) 110 114 224
Prizewinner: 1 (180 Euros voucher + trophy) Mary McKenna.

HANDICAP TOTALS
Mary McKenna (Donbate) (4) 80 76 156
Patricia Morris (Donabate) (11) 74 82 156
Sonia Graham (Royal Guernsey) (16) 89 89 178
Diana Hudson (Royal Guernsey) (9) 88 90 178
Kam Cheema (Red Libbets) (20) 90 94 184
Prizewinners: 1 (100 Euros voucher) Patricia Morris.
2 (80 Euros voucher) Sonia Graham.
3 (2 bottles of wine) Diana Hudson.
4 (Bottle of wine) Kam Cheema.

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS’ OPEN
SCRATCH TOTALS
Hayley Davis (Ferndown) 77 74 151
Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 73 80 153
Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) 76 83 159
Eadaoin Cronin (Bantry Bay) 86 87 173
Lucie Walker (Ormskirk) 86 90 176
Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) 110 95 205
Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) Ret 106 ----
Prizewinners: 1 (150 Euros voucher + trophy) Hayley Davis.
2 (80 Euros voucher) Hannah Turland.

HANDICAP TOTALS
Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) (7) 69 76 145
Hayley Davis (Ferndown) (1) 76 73 149
Hannah Turland (Tidworth) (2) 71 78 149
Eadaoin Cronin (Bantry Bay) (10) 76 77 153
Lucie Walker (Ormskirk) (11) 75 79 154
Gemma McCarthy (Clonmel) (20) 90 75 165
Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (11) Ret 95 -----
Prizewinners: 1 (100 Euros voucher) Amber Ratcliffe.
2 (75 Euros voucher) Eadaoin Cronin.
3 (Glenmuir towel, HDA shirt, 20 Euros voucher) Lucie Walker.
4 (Glenmuir socks, HDA cap, 20 Euros voucher) Gemma McCarthy.
5 (Glenmuir socks, HDA towel, 20 Euros voucher) Kirsten MacCallum.

PROFESSIONALS
Lien Willems (Belgium) 77 72 149
Ruth O’Carroll (La Manga) 87 80 167
Prizewinners: 1 (150 Euros) Lien Willems.
2 (Champagne) Ruth O’Carroll.

Sian James scores second university win

EWGA Press release

Gloucestershire student Sian James (right) won the latest qualifier for the British universities strokeplay championship by the hefty margin of 12 shots.

Sian, who plays at Bristol & Clifton and is a student at Birmingham University, was the only woman player to beat par at St Annes Old Links, Lancashire, with two rounds of one-under 71.

Although most of the country was covered in snow, the golf course had escaped – but the competitors still had to contend with wintry conditions. . Sian remarked: “There wasn't any snow in sight on the first day but the frost and sleet arrived for the second round. On the whole, despite it being very cold and at times windy, the course held up well.”

This was the second of four England and Wales qualifying events for the championship and Sian, 20, has wo n them both.

English mid-amateur champion Lucy Williams was runner-up in the first event and just pipped for the same place in the latest qualifier by virtue of her second round score. Lucy, from Mid-Herts and Birmingham University, and Sian have both been members of English Women’s Golf Association squads.

At the end of the series the top seven players will go through to the final at Notts Golf Club from 21-24 April, where they will be joined by competitors from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The championship is run by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

Final scores

Par 72 CSS 74, 75
142 Sian James (Birmingham University) 71, 71;
154 Christina Petersson (Northumbria) 77, 77; Lucy Williams (Birmingham) 75, 79
158 Charlotte Hope (Birmingham) 78, 80; Amelie Bernsdof (Northumbria) 79, 81
163 Lauren Spray (Birmingham) 83, 80
164 Johanna Rosen (Central Lancashire) 81, 83; Claire Fry (Birmingham) 78, 86;
172 Katie Barraclough (Exeter) 92, 80

Off to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival

Colin Farquharson is off to Spain today to help organise the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival, so no updates today but, hopefully, we'll have some golf news for you on Wednesday.

Tiger and Elin name their second child Charlie Axel

Tiger Woods and his wife Elin have confirmed the news of the birth of their second child, a boy named Charlie Axel.
The boy was born on Sunday and is a brother for 19-month-old Sam Alexis.
"Both Charlie and Elin are doing great and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts," said a "thrilled" Woods on his website.
"Sam is very excited to be a big sister and we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family. I also want to thank our doctors, nurses and the hospital staff for their personal and professional care."
He added: "We look forward to introducing Charlie to you at the appropriate time."
The next big news awaited from Woods, of course, is when he will return to golf. He has been out of action since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery following his amazing 14th major victory at the US Open last June.
He has been practising for several weeks now and said last week it was going "full bore".
The Accenture World Match Play in Tucson is in three weeks and Woods is the defending champion, but with the possibility of having to play two rounds a day he may decide to wait until the US Tour comes to Florida, the state where he lives, next month.
"I have no restrictions - it's just a matter of getting my golf endurance up. I don't have my golf stamina back yet," he said on his website.
"I am excited about returning to competition. Early on I didn't miss golf because I enjoyed staying home with Elin and Sam and I knew I wasn't physically able to play.
"The truth is, I would have embarrassed myself. Now I'm getting my feel and practice back. It's just a matter of playing more on the course. I'm working hard to get myself back into tournament shape and will return as soon as I'm ready."

US Curtis Cup player leaves Duke

- to turn pro later this year

Mina Harigae, a member of the United States team who won the Curtis Cup match 13-7 over the Old Course, St Andrews, last May, has terminated her golf scholarship at Duke University, the top-ranked team in American female college golf.
She says will turn professional later this year.
“I want to thank (coach) Dan Brooks and all of my Blue Devil teammates for a great fall at Duke,” Harigae said in a university news release. “I enjoyed playing college golf, and Duke is a wonderful place, but I have decided I need to focus more on golf and my goal of turning professional. I have not decided when I will turn professional, but I plan on doing so by the end of the (2009) summer.”
Harigae, a former No. 1-ranked junior by Golfweek, played in three tournaments for Duke, finishing in the top top five twice. She posted a 71.13 scoring average and was No. 6 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.Harigae, of Monterey, California., won the 2007 US Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.
“Mina is an exceptional golfer and we wish her all the best in her future,” Brooks said. “If she works hard, she should have a very bright career in professional golf.”
The surprising thing is that Harigae has waited until February to quit Duke and announce she is going to turn pro sometime later this year. It would suggest that college studies were getting in the way of her golf.
Other members of the 2008 American Curtis Cup team who have already turned pro include Irish-born Alison Walshe and Stacey Lewis.

Essex girl Nicola Race in triple

tie for 2nd place in Louisiana

Essex girl Nicola Race, last year's NJCAA women's' champion and a student at Redlands Community College, El Reno in Oklahoma, finished in a triple tie for second place in the Koasati Pines Collegiate Classic tournament at Koasati Pines Golf Club, Kinder in Louisiana at the weekend.

Nicola, pictured right, a member of Chelmsford Golf Club, has signed a Letter of Intent to step up to the University of Mississippi in the autumn.

She had rounds of 71, 78 and 77 for a total of 10-over-par 226 over a par-72, 6217yd course.

Winner by four shots was Sydney Liles (Texas State) with rounds of 73, 75 and 74 for six-over 222.

Shirley Harvey (South Alabama) from Belfast and Gemma Hardie (Central Arkansas) from Scunthorpe tied for 50th place in a field of 89 on the 245 mark. Shiley scored 84, 80 and 81, Gemma 83, 77 and 85.

Texas State (924) won the team title ahead of McNeese State (926) with Central Arkansas and UTSA joint third on 929. Redlands (955) finished 10th of 16.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72) 6217yd

222 Sydney Liles (Texas State) 73 75 74.

226 Nicola Race (Redlands) 71 78 77, Maria Clark Jarmillo (Central Arkansas) 78 75 73, Nicole Forshner (Central Arkansas) 77 74 75.

Selected scores:

245 Shirley Harvey (South Alabama) 84 80 81, Gemma Hardie (Central Arkansas) 83 77 85.

LEADING TEAM TOTALS

924 Texas State.

926 McNeese State.

929 Central Arkansas, Texas-San Antonio.

Selected score:

955 Redlands (10th of 16).

New format for EWGA’s 2009

PING tournament

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
There’s a new format for the 2009 PING Women’s Four-ball Better-ball Tournament of England – and it means more prizes for more golfers. The tournament is run by the English Women’s Golf Association and last year around 14,000 competitors took part.
The 2009 tournament is expected to attract an even bigger entry and offers:
•Prizes for the winning pair and the runners-up in each club qualifying round.
•A new system of qualifying for the Grand Final. The top 60 club winners will go straight through to the Grand Final on Tuesday September 8.
•A new Plate Final for the next best 72 pairs. This will be played on Monday, September 7.
•Both finals will be held at PING’s Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire and competitors will have the opportunity to visit the PING factory, to try clubs at the PING custom fitting centre, and to take part in other competitions throughout the day for more PING prizes.
There will no longer be regional finals.
EWGA tournament secretary Emma Lowe commented: “We have introduced these changes after consultation with members and we hope competitors will enjoy the new format, with prizes at club level and the opportunity to qualify straight through to one of the finals.”
EWGA will run an online tournament leaderboard so club winners can track their progress towards either the Grand Final or the Plate Final.
This will be on the championship website www.pingchampionship.com and will be updated daily. All finalists will receive a goodie bag from PING. Grand finalists will also receive an item of clothing from PING Collection and a pair of Ecco shoes.
The winners of both finals will receive clothing from PING Collection or PING golf clubs to the retail value of £400.
At each event, the second placed players will each receive prizes to the value of £100 and the third placed players to the value of £50. The Grand Final winners will be the PING champions for 2009.Full details have been sent to clubs who must play their qualifying round before 24 June 2009.

Scott Crichton on the left and Steven Maxwell on right. Both students at Western New Mexico University, based at Silver City.

DALGETY BAY STUDENT FINISHES JOINT

THIRD IN WESTERN NEW MEXICO

Scott Crichton from Dalgety Bay, Fife, a third-year student at Western New Mexico University, finished joint third and team-mate Steven Maxwell from Glasgow 31st in a field of 53 for the WNMU Cactus Thaw college golf tournament at Silver City Golf Club, New Mexico at the weekend.
Crichton had rounds of 71 and 72 for a one-over-par total of 143 over the 6417yd, par-71 course. Maxwell scored 75 and 84 for 159.
Ryan Word (New Mexico State) won by two shots with a pair of 70s for 140.
But Crichton's effort helped Western New Mexico, the host university, to win the team event by 15 strokes from South Mountain College.

ends

Report: Tiger and Elin Woods welcome

their second child, a son

FROM GOLF.COM WEBSITE
By Michael Walker Jr
Senior Editor, GOLF Magazine
Tiger Woods's wife, Elin, gave birth to a boy, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune website. It is the second child for the couple; their daughter Sam was born in 2007.
Woods normally releases information through his website, but as of early Monday morning there had yet to be an announcement. The San Diego Union-Tribune said a "source with ties to the Woods family" told them the No. 1 golfer in the world and his wife had their second child.
Woods, 33, has found himself in the role of stay-at-home dad since June 2008, when he underwent reconstructive knee surgery after his dramatic U.S. Open win at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. He's said he enjoyed spending the extra time with his daughter and that his knee injury has been a "blessing" in many ways.
"While my injury has been disappointing and frustrating, it has allowed me to spend a lot of time watching Sam grow," Woods said on his website. "I can't begin to tell you how rewarding it is being a dad and spending time with her and Elin."
Last week Woods said in a newsletter that he was preparing for his return to the PGA Tour, but everything was on hold until the new baby arrived.
"As for my comeback to the PGA Tour, a lot depends on the baby, which is due pretty soon. That takes precedent over anything I do golf-wise," Woods said. "Elin, Sam and I are very excited for the new baby to arrive, although that's when the real lack of sleep begins."
However, the new baby shouldn't expect to see too much of his dad. Woods's recovery from surgery has gone according to schedule, and he said he expects to play in this year's Masters tournament in April, if not sooner. Any Tour players hoping that diaper duty will affect Woods's play should keep in mind that Sam was born the Monday after the U.S. Open at Oakmont; two months later Woods won the PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

Verizon Junior Heritage girls' championship in South Carolina

Stephanie Meadow (far right) with her third-place trophy, and Sally Watson.

Stephanie pipped for title

as Sally slips in Round 2

Curtis Cup Scot Sally Watson faded from an overnight joint fourth place to a final position of joint 15th in the prestigious Verizon Junior Heritage girls' 36-hole golf championship at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina today.
In balmy temperatures in the mid-70s, Sally followed up an opening round on Saturday of one-under-par 71 (35-36) over the Ocean Course with an 11-over 82 at the Harbour Town Golf Links.
Sally, who will be 18 in July and is a resident student at the David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton, Florida, certainly did not produce her Sunday best. She did not have a single birdie at the Harbour Town Links (6010yd, par-71) and ran up double bogeys at the short fourth and par-4 18th. She also shed shots at the first, seventh, ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th and 15th in halves of 41 (five over) going out and 41 (six over) coming home.
Former Irish girls champion Stephanie Meadow, pictured above, from County Antrim, a student at the International Golf Academy at Hilton Head Island, finished joint third on 146 with rounds of 70 and 76.
Stephanie had birdies at the fourth, 10th, 11th and 16th but a double bogey 6 at the 13th and bogeys at the second, third, seventh, ninth, 12th and 18th in halves of 39 and 36 made the difference between victory and runner-up.
Her total of two-over-par 145 saw her finish one shot behind the US "wonder girl," 13-year-old Alexis Thompson and Laetitia Beck, the Israeli girl who attends a Florida golf academy.
Both girls scored 72 in both rounds.
SCOREBOARD

Ocean Course & Harbour Town Links
FINAL TOTALS
Par 143 (72-71) Players from US unless stated
144 Alexis Thompson 72 72, Laetitia Beck (Israel) 72 72.
145 Stephanie Meadow (NIre) 70 75, Jessica Korda 71 74.
146 Emilie Burger 70 76, Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai (Thai) 71 75.
149 Isabelle Lendl 76 73.
150 Doris Chen 69 81, Sarah Brown 73 77.
Selected scores:
152 Daniela Lendl 73 79, Haley Stephens 72 80.
153 Sally Watson (Sco) 71 82.

LPGA founding member Betty Jameson dies

Betty Jameson, one of the 13 founding members of the LPGA Tour in 1950, died on Saturday at Boynton Beach, Florida. She was 89.
"As a result of Betty's elegant ambition, generations of women have benefited from her dedication, vision and sacrifice," LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens said.
"We are very sorry to lose her. At the same time, we celebrate her life and her remarkable spirit."
Born May 9, 1919, in Norman, Okla., Jameson won the 1932 Texas Publinx title at 13, took the Southern Championship at 15, and won consecutive U.S. Women's Amateur titles in 1939 and 1940. She won the 1942 Western Open for the first of her three major titles, and completed her amateur career with 14 victories.
Jameson turned professional in 1945, won the U.S. Women's Open in 1947, and took the Women's Western Open in 1954. She finished her LPGA Tour career with 13 victories.
Jameson was inducted to the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf in 1951, and became one of six inaugural members of the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame in 1967.

Katherine Hull coasts to

five-shot win in ANZ

Ladies Masters

FROM THE LADIES' EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

(with additional words by Colin Farquharson)
Australian Katherine Hull cruised to a five-stroke victory at the ANZ Ladies Masters at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Queensland in Australia today and confirmed her status as one of her country’s fastest rising golf stars.
Hull, who began the final round with a three-stroke lead over fellow-Australian Tamie Durdin, recorded a winning total of 16-under-par 272.
The 26-year old LPGA Tour regular and winner last year, fired rounds of 69, 67, 68 and 68 and became the third Australian to win the tournament in its 20-year history, after Jane Crafter and Karrie Webb.
“If anyone would have said to me that I would shoot four rounds in the 60s I would have been absolutely ecstatic,” said Hull, who collected a winner’s cheque for AUD$90,000 and is pictured above with the championship trophy, by courtesy of the Ladies' European Tour website.
“I dreamt about this as a kid. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. There are so many great names on the trophy and you walk past the framed pictures of the winners and you wish you had your picture up there. Now I’m going to be up there so I’m just stoked. I couldn’t have written the story any better this week.”
Durdin, who faded in the final round of last year’s tournament at Royal Pines, held her nerve and closed with a 70 to tie for second with promising young Korean So Yeon Ryu, who shot 66 today.
“For me it was a win. I did not crumble. I was disappointed to make bogey up the last,” said Durdin, who plays on the Japanese tour. “Considering how she played, I could not really ask for much more.”
Last year’s European No 1 Gwladys Nocera, winner of last weekend's New Zealand Women's Open, closed with a 67 to tie for fourth with Australian Sarah Kemp (68), American Mollie Fankhauser (70) and world No. 2 Yani Tseng (66). Nocera also took the early lead on the Ladies European Tour’s 2009 New Star Money List.
Hull, who played the US women's college circuit for four years as a student at Pepperdine University, Malibu in California, claimed her breakthrough win at the Canadian Women’s Open in Ottawa in August, which was her first win in five years on the US LPGA Tour.
She had been close to victory over the last two weeks as a runner-up at the LG Bing NSW Ladies Open a fortnight ago and was joint second at last week’s New Zealand Women’s Open. With over US$1 million on the US LPGA Tour last year, she finished 13th on the money list and is being tipped by some to challenge Karrie Webb as the future Australian No.1.
“To follow in Karrie’s footsteps would be awesome because she’s done so much and at such a young age. She has raised the bar for us Aussies. To be held in the same sentence as her is an honour. I’d love to go out there and win next week and get into the same category,” Hull said.
Her final round began in perfect fashion when she birdied the first hole establishing a four stroke lead but Durdin edged within two when she birdied the sixth hole.
Hull turned in two-under 35 with a three stroke advantage and effectively sealed the win with three consecutive birdies from the 12th. She led by six shots before taking her sole bogey at the last hole.

Wales' Becky Brewerton was the highest-placed finisher from Britain. She closed with a 71 for 281 and a tie for 12th place.
Six-time Masters winner Karrie Webb had an unhappy 73 to finish in joint 30th on three-under-par. She blamed poor putting and a double bogey at the start of her round but was looking forward to defending next week’s Women’s Australian Open at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne.
Scotland's Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links) finished with a 74 for a five-over-par total of 293. She birdied two long holes, the third and the 12th, but could cancel out bogeys at the sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th.

+We'll have the full final totals for you soon. In the meantime, here is an abbreviated version.

Par 288 (4 x 72)

272 K Hull 68.

277 T Durdin 70, So Yeon Rhy 67.

278 Ya-Ni Tseng 66, G Nocera 67, M Fankhauser 70, S Kemp 68.

279 Ji-Yai Shin 69, L Wright 67.

280 A Rawson 69, N Garrett 67.

Selected scores:

281 B Brewerton 71.

282 M Skarpnoord 71.

283 L Wessberg 677, A-L Caudal 69.

2894 N Reis 69, M Reid 69.

285 K Webb 73.

288 B Recari 73.

286 C Alonso 71.

288 S Head 75, C Boeljon 68, U Wikstrom 76.

289 L Davies 72.

290 F Johnson 72, T Johnson 76.

291 A Walshe 79, J Westerberg 74.

292 C Hallstrom 72, T Elosegui 75.

293 L Kenny 74, R Hudson 76.