Madelene Sagstrom joined the Grange after day two.
On day two the seemingly indestructible Karrie Webb faded, a double bogey from under a pine tree on the par-three 14th that enveloped her day. The time was right for a youth to shine at the ISPS Handa Women & # 39; s Australian Open, and they were more than ready.
Wei-Ling Hsu is only 24 years old and emerges as the best player in Taiwan, after a few years ago following the triumphant progress of her predecessor Yani Tseng, struggling with her diminutive to see the goal of her admiration in the incredible crowds that flocked to see Tseng at home.
Her appearance at the top of the standings for the second evening should not surprise; she is in 69th place in the world and last year was close to the top 30 LPGA Tour money list. She also finished fifth in the US Women & # 39; s Open. She has serious games and after her beautiful opening 65 she has backed up with 69 today.
She has written only one bogey on her card in two days of golf, which tells a whole story.
Madelene Sagstrom from Sweden picked her way in The Grange today in 67 to join Hsu at the age of 10.
Sagstrom earned more than $ US $ 200,000 last year on the LPGA Tour and continues to accelerate her career at the age of 26. Today she conjured up her feelings that she thought she was best at. "I literally probably never rolled a putter," she said. "My speed was phenomenal, so as soon as I was on the green I knew I had a birdie opportunity, which is a great feeling, so I played very freely, I accepted it very much, I took my medicine when needed and I stayed calm all day long and it was just fun to be there. "
Directly behind that pair is a group that contains two of the new wave, the
22-year-old Perth professional Hannah Green and America's hugely talented 20-year-old Nelly Korda, already one of the best players in the world, as well as former Haru Nomura winner from Japan.
"I am very satisfied," Green said. "Last week I shot a good opening round at the Vic Open, and on the Friday I had just one of those days where nothing really went for me, so I was a bit nervous about today's round."
Green played in the last group in Kooyonga in the Open of last year and finished third. It was the beginning of an excellent year for her, a season in which she managed to find her way on the main tour, experiencing all the difficulties that young touring professionals had at the beginning of their careers, but remained her card.
Coached by Ritchie Smith, who also accompanies Minjee Lee, she continues to appear – together with Lee – as one of the best young players in Australia. "I did not want to expect too much, but I know I've played a good past for the last two years, so I'm sure I have good vibes when I go to Adelaide, which is good luck," she said. "But yes, after last week I think I was probably a bit more nervous than I was, compared to last year."
Korda has an amusing connection with this event. This week she said she felt "so shut out" when her family talked about the Australian Opens of golf and tennis variety at the dinner table, because her father Petr won the tennis version and her older sister Jessica won the golf Open. , plus her brother Sebastian won the boys' title at the tennis Open.
But soon enough she could talk in those terms. Her strength has the ability to destroy old jobs such as The Grange; she shot 66 today, and on Thursday her ride on the par-four 18th almost reached the zebra crossing for spectators, a place that was out of reach, only 55 meters from the green.
As far as Hsu is concerned, she came into the season with an adult attitude. "I think I learned a lot from that, how you can play under pressure," she said. "That has made me a little stronger this year and more able to concentrate on my game, which is what I learned last year."
The 44-year-old Webb, who had lit up the crowd with her opening 67, had a much more difficult time today and took a 74 who stayed behind in the peloton on three-under. She birdied her first hole but made a few mistakes, and tucked left of the green and death on the par-three 14th, she could only hit her ball over the pit surface and into a bunker. A five resulted.
The crowd drew more to her than anyone else; there is no one who moves the needle in golf anymore.
The highest ranked player of Australia, Minjee Lee, improved and knew a two-under-par 70, leaving them three-under-general and not necessarily out of the running.
World number 1 Ariya Jutanugarn shot on day two and grabbed a 69 to get inside the dividing line, but Kiwi Lydia Ko had a bad day and will miss the weekend together with Georgia Hall of England.
LEADERBOARD
-10 Hsu (Taiwan), Sagstrom (Sweden)
-7 Green (Australia), Nomura (Japan), Korda (USA)
-6 Ewart Shadoff (England)
-5 Liu (China), Law (England), Tamulis (USA)
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