Smith Bounces Back on Debut

Western Australia’s Kristie Smith has bounced back to finish a respectable 1-over par at the end of the Scandinavian TPC tournament in Sweden- her first tournament as a professional.

Smith’s opening round was tough going. Bogeys on the second and fourth were the only blemishes on the front nine but the back nine proved a house of horrors.

The advantage of two early birdies at the 11th and 12th vanished after a vicious triple-bogey on the 15th left her with an opening round score of 6-over 78.

But to her credit Smith bounced back. Her second round included three birdies on the front nine and two on the way home to give her a 4-under score of 68 and a ten shot improvement on the previous day’s play.

Her final round included five birdies but a double bogey on the 14th and bogey on the 17th brought Smith back to a 1-under round of 71 and 1-over for the tournament.

She was joined at 1-over by fellow Australian Dana Lacey.

South Korean teenager Amy Yang won the event with a three round score of 14-under 202 including an extraordinary round of 9-under 63 to win by eight strokes from Finland’s Minea Blomqvist.

Host Annika Sorenstam finished in a group of four Swedes at 7-under.

Scorecard:

1.Amy Yang (KOR) 70-69-63- 202
T2.Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 74-71-63- 208
T2.Mélodie Bourdy (FRA) 71-71-66- 208
T2.Maria Hjorth (SWE) 72-64-72- 208
T2.Lill Saether (NOR) 71-64-73- 208
T13. Nikki Garrett (AUS) 74-67-70- 211
T28. Karen Lunn (AUS) 214
T30. Sarah Nicholson (AUS) 215
T40. Kristie Smith (AUS) 217
T40. Dana Lacey (AUS) 217