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Posted: 4/4/05
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Back in January, Libby Smith qualified for the Thailand Ladies Open in Bankok, Thailand by finishing in sixth place in another Asian tournament. The Thailand Ladies Open held at the Alpine Golf Club on March 31- April 3 is part of the Ladies European Tour and, with a total purse of $330,000, is the biggest tournament of Libby's professional career.
Libby got off to a great start firing a first round score of 70 (2 under par) putting her in sixth place just 3 strokes off the lead. Libby added a solid 73 in her second round pushing her back to 20th. In her third round, Libby fired a 3-under 33 in the opening nine pulling her to within 3 strokes of the lead held by Shani Waugh of Australia. But Libby's troubles began on the back nine where she struggled to a 44 finishing with a double bogey on 18. In the final round, Libby started the day with another double bogey finishing with a second straight 77 knocking her back to a tie for 48th. She still picked up a respectable paycheck for $1366.61, but the result is disappointing after such a great start.
Shani Waugh won the event in a sudden-death playoff over Gwladys Nocera of France. Both golfers were tied at the end of regulation play at 282 (6-under par). Shani picked up a hefty check of $49,500.
For complete results, check http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com.
Back home in the United States, two other Vermont golfers, Kiersten Allbright and Sue Horton, are playing on professional tours. Kiersten is in the midst of a nine-tournament series of events in Arizona on the West Coast Ladies Golf Tour. This tour has increased it's prize money this year and now stands in 4th place among the world golf tours for women in total prize money behind the LPGA, the JLPGA, and the European Ladies Tour and ahead of the Futures tour. Kiersten has finished in the money in three of the first 5 events finishing as high as 24th in the event at Estrella Mountain CC near Phoenix on March 14-17. Like Libby, Kiersten has fired par or better in her opening round in the last two tournaments before falling back slightly over the final 36 holes. Kiersten will play several more events on this tour and will travel to China in June for a series of three events sponsored by this tour before heading home to play in the Connecticut Women's Open. For more information, check: http://www.wclgt.com.
Sue Horton has played in the first two events on the Futures Tour in Lakeland, Florida and in Tampa, Florida. Sue missed the cut in the first event, but fired three steady rounds of 75-74-75 to finish in a tie for 49th and picking up a modest paycheck in the second event at East Lake Woodlands Golf and Country Club. For more information, check http://www.futurestour.com.
