Allen Wins in Playoff
American Beth Allen captured her first ALPG title, the Pennant Hills ALPG Ladies Pro-am, in a playoff today in Sydney.
Allen, along with Victorians Stacey Keating and Su Oh all posted fine rounds of six-under pars 67 on the par 73 layout to finish two clear of the rest of the field on a bright and sunny day.
After everyone was in, the trio headed back to the par 3, 137m, 18th for the playoff. On the first playoff hole Allen hit the green, pin high, whilst Keating was just off the back of the green, while Oh tugged her shot left of the bunkers.
Oh went first to go and hit her tricky lob shot to 7ft, while Keating’s long 30ft putt looked in until it stopped an inch short of the hole. Allen had the chance to win but came up short from 15 ft. Unfortunately Oh missed her par putt, so it was down to Keating and Allen.
The good friends headed back to the 18th again, both players found the green, Keating was first away after hitting it to 16 ft up, while Allen was 12ft under the hole. Keating missed her left to right putt on the high side and tapped in for par. That left the door open for Allen, however she couldn’t make her putt, missing it left, however she made her downhill par putt.
So the pair headed back to the 18th for the third time and it proved to be third time lucky for Allen who made an 8ft birdie putt, after Keating’s tee shot found the left hand bunker and didn’t make her chip shot.
Allen was thrilled with her second professional win, “I’m excited, it was a good day and it was fun to win in a playoff, even though it was with one of my good friends.”
She certainly took advantage of the par 5, birding all the par 5’s. “I hit all of them in two except for the 3rd, so that helped a lot. I missed a lot of short ones, but my long putts were great, so that helped a lot few shorter birdie putts but putted the long ones well on the par 5’s.”
The win will help Allen achieve her goal of trying to qualify for the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open through the ALPG2014/15 Money List.
“That’s my goal, Royal Melbourne is my favourite place in the world, I came out early just to be sure I have every chance to qualify.”
Sharing fourth place were England’s Holly Clyburn, Sophie walker and Austrian Christine Wolf after rounds of 69. Five players finished a further shot back including Chantel Hodson, Nadine Smith, Stacey Tate, Michele Thomson and Aliza Huff.
The ALPG Tour now heads to the Oates Victorian Open at 13th Beach.