Karrie Webb DQ’d at Aussie Ladies Masters
The 2nd round at the Volvik RACV Australian Ladies Masters held surprise endings at the top of the leaderboard and at the bottom. Defending champion Karrie Webb, Australia’s top golfer and 8-time winner of the event, had hoped to make it nine victories this weekend. But from the outset Webb was having a tough time getting her game going at the LET/ALPG co-sanctioned tourney. After carding 74, one shot over par, in the first round Webb started the 2nd round well down the board and was at risk of missing the cut if things didn’t improve. They actually got worse. She signed her 2nd round card indicating she’d again shot 74, but immediately realized she’d signed an incorrect card. She’d substituted a par for a bogey on her 12th hole score. The correct score would have placed Webb below the cut line, but she’d already signed the incorrect card. There was no going back. She’d breached Rule 6.6.b and she was disqualified.
Karrie Webb.
"To all the sponsors and fans of the Volvik Australian Ladies Masters, I’m sorry for letting you all down.Karrie Webb, Post Round 2 Tweet"
The Top of the Board
The 2nd round started with Americans Jessica Korda and Katie Burnett on top, sharing a single shot lead with a baker’s dozen in hot pursuit. When everybody was in the clubhouse, Burnett had dropped to a share of 5th place and Korda to a share of 11th and a new pair was sharing a one-shot lead, American Cheyenne Woods and South African Stacy Lee Bregman.
Cheyenne Woods. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
On a day of low scoring, both players were out early on a sunny morning at the RACV Royal Pines layout and soared up the leader board.
Woods round included five birdies, one bogey and an eagle on the first, her 10th hole, when she holed her 7-iron shot from 150 yards.
Bregman had a phenomenal round considering she snapped her 8-iron on her opening hole after hitting a tee and had to play the remainder of her round without it. The 27-year-old South African is attributing her form to coming out to Australia early and playing in the Club Car Series and other ALPG major tournaments.
“I don’t normally play the Pro-Ams and it seems like they are paying off. The ALPG has done a great job hosting all those events to lead up to this and given us internationals a chance to get a nice warm up and I think it has done me the world of good.”
Woods and Bregman hold a one shot lead over England’s Trish Johnson who had a hot putter and fired a seven-under-par 66. Swede Camilla Lennarth carded a 2nd round score of 67 and is outright fourth at eight-under-par. England’s Charley Hull also went low, her seven-under-par 66 to share fifth place with first round leader American Katie Burnett.
Beyond the Spotlight
Rolex Ranked No. 208 Amelia Lewis continued to play a steady, sturdy game during the 2nd round of the Australian Masters, carding 72 and going to the clubhouse at -3 for the tournament. Lewis will start the 3rd round on Saturday outside the top-10 and seven shots off the leaders. But with two rounds remaining, if she could find that game she played at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic she could easily climb up the board a bit.
Yani Tseng. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
LPGA rookie Anya Alvarez will have to wait for the next tournament. She missed the cut. Alvarez is on the alternate list for next week’s LPGA/LET/APLG co-sanctioned ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. Perhaps she’ll get a chance then.
Yani Tseng is still struggling to find her game and play her way out of her slump. At one shot under par for the tournament, Tseng made the cut but still has some work ahead of her if she hopes to reclaim her game.
Media Coverage
The LET has announced that this weekend you can LIVE stream the final two rounds of the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters directly on your PC, Laptop or Mobile. To watch all of the action simply visit our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/ladieseuropeantour
Live Streaming WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE in the following countries where it will be shown on TV: Korea (JGolf); USA and Canada (Golf Channel); France (AB Golf); Bosnia, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia (IKO Sport Club); Portugal (Sport TV); Thailand (GMM Sport Thailand); Australia & New Zealand (Host broadcasters). Check local schedules for specific air times.