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LET Sanya Ladies Open Starts With Record-Breaking Score

By Elizabeth Bethel

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Aug 16, 2013; Parker, CO, USA; Lexi Thompson of team U.S. watches her bunker shot roll on the fifth green during the first round of the 2013 Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2013; Parker, CO, USA; Lexi Thompson of team U.S. watches her bunker shot roll on the fifth green during the first round of the 2013 Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Aussie Nikki Campbell produced the round of her life on a warm and benign afternoon in tropical Hainan, China at the Sanya Ladies Open.   Campbell raced to a one shot lead after a sensational tournament record of 63, 9 shots under par, in the 1st round at Yalong Bay golf Club in China.

The 33-year old who calls Canberra home fired nine birdies in a flawless round, coming home in 29 strokes to tie a 25-year-old all time record for the lowest nine hole score, held by 30 other players on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

Campbell, who won two tournaments on the LPGA of Japan before coming through the LET’s Tour School last December, where she tied for second position, is officially a rookie on the Ladies European Tour, but she gained plenty of experience by playing in Japan for ten years.

After a disappointing run of results in Europe this year, she saw her Sydney-based coach Gary Barter for the first time in seven months over the recent tournament break and has immediately reaped the reward.

"I hadn’t had a lesson since before Morocco so it was nice to refresh what I was trying to do with my swing and have better direction with it, Nikki Campbell"

Campbell received an invitation to play in the event and says that this is the last time that her boyfriend, golf professional Damon Welsford, will caddie for her as he is hoping to make it onto the European Tour.

Korean Ye Na Chung trails Campbell’s lead by a stroke in the event tri-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, China LPGA and Ladies’ Asian Golf Tour.  Seventh year professional Chung, who won her sole professional title at the Kangsan Century Championship on the Korean Dream Tour two years ago, made eight birdies in a career-best 64 to lie in second place.

"My putting was really good and I had confidence so I’ll take it. This course, I’m here for the first time so I’m not thinking; only thinking about hitting the ball straight.Ye Na Chung"

A further six players are a stroke back after opening rounds of 67, five under par. Sharing third place are Sweden’s Linda Wessberg, Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal, England’s Charley Hull, South African Lee-Anne Pace and Chinese pair Xi Yu Lin and Yu Ting Shi, with eight players including the evergreen Briton Laura Davies, a further shot behind on four under par.

American Beth Allen carded a -4 and is starting the 2nd round at the Sanya with a share of 9th place.  Allen, a former LPGA player, opted in 2008 to join the Ladies European Tour. She’s found the more laid back atmosphere in the LET  a better fit for her personal as well as her professional style.

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