Golf: Lost ball on 18th costly

ASHBURTON - New Zealand strokeplay champion Penny Newbrook, of Rotorua, was cruelly knocked out of the top four in the national women's under-21 matchplay golf tournament in Ashburton yesterday.

Newbrook, crowned strokeplay champion on Monday, lost her ball approaching the 18th green yesterday.

Newbrook had earlier lost a three-hole lead against her opponent, Selina Moon, of Otago, by losing the 15th, 16th and 17th to tie the scores in the quarter-final.

Then whatever hopes she had of recovering and making it into the semifinals were dashed in her second shot at the 18th.

She hooked her approach shot to the left and then the ball disappeared past a gum tree, about 30m from the green. The subsequent penalty gave Moon the 1-up victory.

Newbrook was devastated after having played so well earlier to win 1-up against Louise Stephens, of Mt Maunganui, in her earlier round.

Moon will meet Aimee Keelan in one semi-final, while Kyla Welsh, of Timaru, will play Natalie McDonald of The Pines in the other.

Keelan, of Gisborne, had a grand day on the course after toppling matchplay favourite Claire Dury in her first round. She then beat Teiria Te Riini 1-up to qualify.

- NZPA