Natalie Tucker Wins Macau Ladies Open
Written on January 27, 2007 by admin
American Natalie Turner became the first winner from outside Asia in the Ladies Asian Golf Tour when she won the inaugural US80,000 Macau Ladies Open presented by CTM at the Macau Golf and Country Club.
Mika Kimura looked headed for a playoff, but Kimura missed a short putt to drop a stroke while Tucker holed in for a par and pumped her fist in the air with joy.
Tucker carded one-over 72 for a three-round total of 217, while Kimura signed out with a four-over 75 for a 218 total. Chinese Taipei’s Tseng Hsiu-Feng finished third with a score of 219.
The 28-year-old Tucker from Florida who holds a conditional card on the US LPGA Tour, had before the start of the tournament said she hoped to end the Asian women’s monopoly in the LAGT. “I’m happy to be the first winner outside Asia,” she said.
“I need a break now and perhaps will spend some time in the casino this evening. I never really knew that Macau is bigger and has lot more casinos than Las Vegas in the US,” said Tucker adding that it was her first visit to Macau and knowing that there’s the Sands and Venetian casinos modeled along the same structures as in Las Vegas.
She now looks forward to next week’s Hong Kong ladies Masters at the Discovery Bay Golf Club hope to score a back-to-back win.
“I was playing well this week. The course is beautiful. The greens are fast and long putt just kept rolling in,” said Tucker.
For Kimura, it was a sad ending, having had a chance to win her maiden title until the final hole, especially after leading the first two round.
“I felt a little pressure when Tucker holed in a long putt for a par. I just couldn’t control my nerves and I missed the putt from a shorter length to make a bogey. I’m not sad but very disappointed,” said Kimura, adding that her defeat today will make her more determined to win in Hong Kong next week.
Leading Rd 3 scores
217: Natalie Tucker (USA) 73-72-72
218: Mika Kimura (Jpn) 70-73-75
219: Tseng Hsiu Feng (Tpe) 77-68-74
220: Teresa Lu (Tpe) 73-76-71, Rie Shiraki (Jpn 73-76-71, Zhang Na (Chn) 76-71-73
221: Wang Chun (Chn) 76-72-73, Fame More (Eng) 75-71-75, Yeo Ji-yae 74-73-74
Courtesy | Ladies Asian Golf Tour
Picture Courtesy | Richard Castka
Technorati Tags: macau
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