JIN Ha Kwak and Sarah Hobday finished as joint leaders yesterday at the end of the first round of the 31st Bahrain Ladies Open golf championship, being played at Awali Golf Club.
Jin Ha and Sarah took advantage of the blue skies and warm sunshine to card 13-over par gross scores of 89 and finish the first 18 holes atop the leader board.
They now hope to continue their fine form over the final day today in order to claim the coveted crown. Jin Ha is looking to become a first-time champion in the competition while Sarah is hoping to capture her second title.
Five shots behind them with day one scores of 94 were the pair of Johanna Hassett and last year’s winner Ariette Paul, who both stayed within striking distance of the top two.
Lynn St Lawrence and Kerry Diaper were a further two shots back with 96 totals for fifth and sixth on the board, while Alexandra Heluin followed, nine shots behind the leaders, on a 98 total.
Ranked eighth and ninth overall were Diane Loney and Susan Scott with identical totals of 99, while Tracy Samson rounded out the top 10 with a score of 100.
A total of 23 ladies representing several different clubs and countries competed against Awali’s sand course and each other on day one.
Day two will commence at 9am today morning, with the Order of Play allowing the ladies with the highest gross score heading out first and those with the lowest teeing off at 10.20am.
All are welcome to Awali Golf Club to attend the event and support the ladies in the competition.
At the end of today’s action, the winners of the competition will be honoured in an awarding ceremony to be held at the club premises.
Two main trophies are to be awarded. The Bahrain Ladies Open Trophy, a silver dhow, is presented for best gross score over 36 holes. A glass replica is normally presented for the winner to keep. The Bahrain Ladies Open Best Net Trophy is presented for the best net score over 36 holes, with no replica.
The championship has been played each year since with some notable ladies winning on more than one occasion. Hilary Sparks won three years in a row from 1988 to 1990. Kirsty Aylin did the same from 1993 to 95. Emma Boyd won a total of six times in, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.