Golf: Brilliant round by Ormsby for title

BRISBANE - New Zealander Brenda Ormsby shot a course record six-under 66 to win the Queensland women's amateur championship north of Brisbane yesterday.

Ormsby, who started the final round one shot adrift of Nikki Garrett, of New South Wales, reeled off six birdies on the back nine at the Caboolture Golf Club to win by five shots from Queenslander Natalie Parkinson.

She ended the four rounds on eight-under 280, showing ideal form for the Queen Sirikit Cup in Malaysia next week where she will represent New Zealand with Anita Boon and Tina Howard.

Parkinson closed with a 70 to snare second place, one stroke clear of Garrett, who had to be content with third after a one-over 73.

Ormsby held a four-shot lead after the opening day, but dropped back after a "pretty average" 75 on Tuesday.

"The first half [today] was also pretty ordinary, but then the birdies started," Ormsby said.

She was somewhat spooked by her effort on the homeward nine when the birdies came at an alarming rate.

"I was getting a bit jumpy. I was thinking, 'I'm way under par, let's get off the golf course'."

Ormsby attributed her success yesterday to some accurate iron play that saw her rarely needing to sink putts from long range.

She is in a rich vein of form, having won her previous outing, the New Zealand amateur championship at Manukau, by 11 strokes a fortnight ago.

She is confident before heading to Kuala Lumpur, and said her team-mates could also take heart from their performances.

Boon closed with a 71, her first sub-par round of the tournament, to finish 11th on 295. Howard was one shot further back in 12th after a final-round 75.

The New Zealanders specifically chose the Queensland tournament to acclimatise to the sticky heat they expect to encounter in Kuala Lumpur.

Ormsby said she learned a valuable lesson about fluid intake after four rounds in the relentless heat.

"I've got to make myself drink. I forgot yesterday and ended up with a headache because I hadn't drunk much."

- NZPA