Catriona Matthew's 67 gives her share of 

fourth place in Aussie Women's Open

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former British Women's Open champion Catriona Matthew could be back on the trail of another big title.

The 46-year-old North Berwick player, pictured, has begun the Handa Australian Women's Open with a five-under-par 67 at Grange Golf Club, Adelaide's West Course and is lying fourth, four strokes behind the leader by three, South Korean Soo Bin Kim who slashed three shots off the course record with a nine-under 63.
Matthew, who won the Aussie title in 1996 - her first win as a professional - and the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham in 2009, had six birdies in halves of 33 and 34 - at the long first, third, long fifth, long 13th, 15th and 17th. Her only bogey came early, at the sixth.
Also on the 67 mark is Australia's Karrie Webb.
Kylie Walker from Glasgow had an eagle 3 at the par-4 11th on her way to a two-under 70 and a share of 21st place with, among others, defending champion Lydia Ko (NZ) and Charley Hull.
Kylie also had bidies at the long first and short fourth in halves of 35. She had bogeys at the sixth and 18th.
Holly Clyburn, Becky Morgan, Georgia Hall, Hannah Burke and Florentyna Parker are locked up at T39 on 71.

Canadian-based South Korean SooBin Kim has set the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open alight with a sensational opening 63 at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide.

Kim, 22, playing in just her second season on the LPGA Tour, had nine birdies and no blemishes in her dazzling start to the tournament, smashing the course record set by Nadina Taylor in 2000 by 3 shots in what were perfect scoring conditions. Kim's best finish on the LPGA tour in her short career so far is a tie for 13th place at the Cambia Portland Classic in 2015.

Kim said her putter was red hot today admitting it was "one of those days'' She had just 26 putts for the day after hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation. "I was just picking my line and rolling them in, let the ball do the rest,'' she said.

"My coach (Brian Jung) were joking around and saying 'let's make 20 birdies this week', and I said 'yeah, I like that idea, let's keep it rolling'.''

It was Kim's first tournament round of the year after a long off-season as her LPGA status did not get her into the field for the first two events of the 2016 season. "I felt really confident, I spent a lot of time working on my swing and working on my putting, and spending time with your coach builds your confidence. I would say I was pretty ready for it, so (I'm) not surprised.''

She anticipates feeling some nerves tomorrow as the tournament leader.  "I would be lying if I said 'no', but I love the pressure, I love the challenge, so it'll be good.''

Kim grew up in British Columbia, Canada, before studying at the University of Washington on a golf scholarship, where she was one of the best college players in America. More recently she turned professional and finished 103rd on the 2015 LPGA Tour money list in her rookie season, 2015, with a best finish of tied-13th at the Cambia Portland Classic.

She will take a 3 stroke lead into tomorrow's second round over American Casey Grice and Germany's Caroline Masson who both shot 6 under par rounds of 66.

Former world number 1 and five time champion Karrie Webb is a further shot back in 4th place after shooting a 5 under par 67 in the more tricky afternoon conditions, and is tied with a group of  5 players including former champion Catriona Matthew from Scotland,

World No. 1 Lydia Ko carded a two-under opening 70 today after a slow start, while Australia's top-ranked player Minjee Lee began with a 69 playing alongside Ko in front of the best crowds the tournament has seen in recent years. Also at 3 under par and tied for 11th place is 2015 RACV Ladies Masters Champion Su Oh, while fellow Victorian Stacey Keating was a further shot back at 2 under par after making birdies at 5 of her last 8 holes.

Play will resume at 7:10am tommorrow morning. After 36 holes there will be a cut to 70 players plus ties.

For first round scores http://alpg.com.au/tournament.php?id=4471&pid=1150&sec=lb

Follow ALPG on Twitter @ALPGTour  Instagram alpgtour and Facebook Australian Ladies Professional Golf
- See more at: http://alpg.com.au/news_article.php?id=4668&pid=1001#sthash.WUnwDZJL.dpuf

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72
63 Soo Bin Kim (SKor)
66 Caroline Masson (Ger), Casey Grice (USA)
67 Catriona Matthew (Sco), Karrie Webb (Aus), Hye Jin (SKor), P K Kongkraphan (Thai), Jenny Shin (SKor).

SELECTED SCORES
70 Kylie Walker (Sco), Charley Hull (Eng), Lydia Ko (NZ) (T21)
71 Holly Clyburn (Eng), Becky Morgan (Wal), Georgia Hall (Eng), Hannah Burke (Eng), Florentyna Parker (Eng). (T39).
73 Amy Boulden (Wal) (T72)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE 


South Korean Kim slashes three shots off 

course record with a 63

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN LPGA WEBSITE
Canadian-based South Korean SooBin Kim has set the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open alight with a sensational opening 63 at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide.
Kim, 22, playing in just her second season on the LPGA Tour, had nine birdies and no blemishes in her dazzling start to the tournament, smashing the course record set by Nadina Taylor in 2000 by 3 shots in what were perfect scoring conditions. Kim's best finish on the LPGA tour in her short career so far is a tie for 13th place at the Cambia Portland Classic in 2015.
Kim said her putter was red hot today admitting it was "one of those days'' She had just 26 putts for the day after hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation. "I was just picking my line and rolling them in, let the ball do the rest,'' she said.
"My coach (Brian Jung) were joking around and saying 'let's make 20 birdies this week', and I said 'yeah, I like that idea, let's keep it rolling'.''
It was Kim's first tournament round of the year after a long off-season as her LPGA status did not get her into the field for the first two events of the 2016 season.
 "I felt really confident, I spent a lot of time working on my swing and working on my putting, and spending time with your coach builds your confidence. I would say I was pretty ready for it, so (I'm) not surprised.''
She anticipates feeling some nerves tomorrow as the tournament leader.  "I would be lieing if I said 'No', but I love the pressure, I love the challenge, so it'll be good.''
Kim grew up in British Columbia, Canada, before studying at the University of Washington on a golf scholarship, where she was one of the best college players in America. 
More recently she turned professional and finished 103rd on the 2015 LPGA Tour money list in her rookie season, 2015, with a best finish of tied-13th at the Cambia Portland Classic.
She will take a 3 stroke lead into Friday's second round over American Casey Grice and Germany's Caroline Masson who both shot 6 under par rounds of 66.
Former world number 1 and five time champion Karrie Webb is a further shot back in fourth place after shooting a 5 under par 67 in the more tricky afternoon conditions, and is tied with a group of  five players including former British Open champion Catriona Matthew from Scotland,
World No. 1 Lydia Ko carded a two-under opening 70 today after a slow start, while Australia's top-ranked player Minjee Lee began with a 69 playing alongside Ko in front of the best crowds the tournament has seen in recent years. 
After 36 holes there will be a cut to 70 players plus ties.


Follow ALPG on Twitter @ALPGTour  Instagram alpgtour and Facebook Australian Ladies Professional Golf

Canadian-based South Korean SooBin Kim has set the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open alight with a sensational opening 63 at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide.

Kim, 22, playing in just her second season on the LPGA Tour, had nine birdies and no blemishes in her dazzling start to the tournament, smashing the course record set by Nadina Taylor in 2000 by 3 shots in what were perfect scoring conditions. Kim's best finish on the LPGA tour in her short career so far is a tie for 13th place at the Cambia Portland Classic in 2015.

Kim said her putter was red hot today admitting it was "one of those days'' She had just 26 putts for the day after hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation. "I was just picking my line and rolling them in, let the ball do the rest,'' she said.

"My coach (Brian Jung) were joking around and saying 'let's make 20 birdies this week', and I said 'yeah, I like that idea, let's keep it rolling'.''

It was Kim's first tournament round of the year after a long off-season as her LPGA status did not get her into the field for the first two events of the 2016 season. "I felt really confident, I spent a lot of time working on my swing and working on my putting, and spending time with your coach builds your confidence. I would say I was pretty ready for it, so (I'm) not surprised.''

She anticipates feeling some nerves tomorrow as the tournament leader.  "I would be lying if I said 'no', but I love the pressure, I love the challenge, so it'll be good.''

Kim grew up in British Columbia, Canada, before studying at the University of Washington on a golf scholarship, where she was one of the best college players in America. More recently she turned professional and finished 103rd on the 2015 LPGA Tour money list in her rookie season, 2015, with a best finish of tied-13th at the Cambia Portland Classic.

She will take a 3 stroke lead into tomorrow's second round over American Casey Grice and Germany's Caroline Masson who both shot 6 under par rounds of 66.

Former world number 1 and five time champion Karrie Webb is a further shot back in 4th place after shooting a 5 under par 67 in the more tricky afternoon conditions, and is tied with a group of  5 players including former champion Catriona Matthew from Scotland,

World No. 1 Lydia Ko carded a two-under opening 70 today after a slow start, while Australia's top-ranked player Minjee Lee began with a 69 playing alongside Ko in front of the best crowds the tournament has seen in recent years. Also at 3 under par and tied for 11th place is 2015 RACV Ladies Masters Champion Su Oh, while fellow Victorian Stacey Keating was a further shot back at 2 under par after making birdies at 5 of her last 8 holes.

Play will resume at 7:10am tommorrow morning. After 36 holes there will be a cut to 70 players plus ties.

For first round scores http://alpg.com.au/tournament.php?id=4471&pid=1150&sec=lb

Follow ALPG on Twitter @ALPGTour  Instagram alpgtour and Facebook Australian Ladies Professional Golf
- See more at: http://alpg.com.au/news_article.php?id=4668#sthash.vytYpY2J.dpuf

Canadian-based South Korean SooBin Kim has set the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open alight with a sensational opening 63 at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide.

Kim, 22, playing in just her second season on the LPGA Tour, had nine birdies and no blemishes in her dazzling start to the tournament, smashing the course record set by Nadina Taylor in 2000 by 3 shots in what were perfect scoring conditions. Kim's best finish on the LPGA tour in her short career so far is a tie for 13th place at the Cambia Portland Classic in 2015.

Kim said her putter was red hot today admitting it was "one of those days'' She had just 26 putts for the day after hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation. "I was just picking my line and rolling them in, let the ball do the rest,'' she said.

"My coach (Brian Jung) were joking around and saying 'let's make 20 birdies this week', and I said 'yeah, I like that idea, let's keep it rolling'.''

It was Kim's first tournament round of the year after a long off-season as her LPGA status did not get her into the field for the first two events of the 2016 season. "I felt really confident, I spent a lot of time working on my swing and working on my putting, and spending time with your coach builds your confidence. I would say I was pretty ready for it, so (I'm) not surprised.''

She anticipates feeling some nerves tomorrow as the tournament leader.  "I would be lying if I said 'no', but I love the pressure, I love the challenge, so it'll be good.''

Kim grew up in British Columbia, Canada, before studying at the University of Washington on a golf scholarship, where she was one of the best college players in America. More recently she turned professional and finished 103rd on the 2015 LPGA Tour money list in her rookie season, 2015, with a best finish of tied-13th at the Cambia Portland Classic.

She will take a 3 stroke lead into tomorrow's second round over American Casey Grice and Germany's Caroline Masson who both shot 6 under par rounds of 66.

Former world number 1 and five time champion Karrie Webb is a further shot back in 4th place after shooting a 5 under par 67 in the more tricky afternoon conditions, and is tied with a group of  5 players including former champion Catriona Matthew from Scotland,

World No. 1 Lydia Ko carded a two-under opening 70 today after a slow start, while Australia's top-ranked player Minjee Lee began with a 69 playing alongside Ko in front of the best crowds the tournament has seen in recent years. Also at 3 under par and tied for 11th place is 2015 RACV Ladies Masters Champion Su Oh, while fellow Victorian Stacey Keating was a further shot back at 2 under par after making birdies at 5 of her last 8 holes.

Play will resume at 7:10am tommorrow morning. After 36 holes there will be a cut to 70 players plus ties.

For first round scores http://alpg.com.au/tournament.php?id=4471&pid=1150&sec=lb

Follow ALPG on Twitter @ALPGTour  Instagram alpgtour and Facebook Australian Ladies Professional Golf
- See more at: http://alpg.com.au/news_article.php?id=4668&pid=1001#sthash.WUnwDZJL.dpuf