Golf: Records fall in Ormsby win

By JULIE ASH and NZPA

Rotorua's Brenda Ormsby blew the field away to win her 10th national title yesterday.

The 42-year-old captured the women's amateur strokeplay championship by a remarkable 11 shots at the Manukau course, finishing with a 72-hole total of 277, 19 under par.

It was the seventh strokeplay title to go with her three national amateur championships and capped off a week of records.

Ormsby was the only player in red figures for each round, and broke the course record twice along the way, highlighted by a seven-under 67 in the third round.

Her winning score was the lowest four-round score on record, eclipsing Katherine Knight's sub-par winning tally at Russley, Christchurch, in 1995.

It is also believed to be the biggest winning margin for the national strokeplay championship.

Ormsby, who started the final round with a six-shot lead, extended her advantage with a five-under 69 to win by 11 shots from teenager Susie Mathews, with a further three shots back to fellow Australian Rebecca Fry.

Her winning effort was marked by the fact that only five players finished on even-par or better, including invited professional Gina Scott.

Ormsby's Bay of Plenty and New Zealand team-mate Tina Howard, of Taupo, was fourth on even-par 296, one shot ahead of the talented Auckland 14-year-old, Enu Chung.

Former international Lisa Herbert, of Palmerston North, was a shot further back on two-over 298 with another 14-year-old, Frances Bondad, of Australia.

Ormsby bagged seven birdies and two bogeys in her final round, finishing the tournament with 22 birdies, one eagle and only five bogeys, in a confidence-boosting performance before next month's Queen Sirikit Cup Pacific Rim international in Malaysia.

Only one player, the late Oliver Hollis, from Otago, has won more titles. She captured 10 strokeplay and three amateurs in the 1920s and 30s.

Going into the tournament Ormsby said she did not prepare any differently.

"It was just a matter of keeping out of trouble," she said.

"Getting the ball close on the par fives helped."