BURLEIGH-based Rebecca Artis has grabbed 10 birdies in 29 holes to roar back into contention at the inaugural Australian Ladies Classic at Bonville, outside Coffs Harbour, after a dire start.
Her fighting qualities after starting the event with four bogeys in the opening seven holes on Thursday are ideal for confidence as she tunes up for her long-awaited start in Phoenix next month as a rookie on the rich LPGA Tour.
Artis (72-69) sits seventh at three-under-par and has joined Perth’s in-form Hannah Green (70-70) as the big Aussie challengers at this bright new $ 350,000 stop on the local women’s tour.
Both will need to catch England’s Holly Clyburn (67-69), who has put a two-stroke gap on the field at eight-under.
Artis stroked in a monster 16m putt for a rare birdie at the tough par four 13th, had two-putt birdies on three of the par fives that wind between the tall gums and may have shot 67 if she’d holed couple of makeable 3-4m putts.
“I feel really good about my game and it has been nice to fight back from that slow start when I was sitting at four-over after seven holes,” Artis said.
“I can’t wait to get on the road in the US and it’s great to get this run of five tournaments in Australia to get sharp.
“Bonville is a pretty spectacular golf course and I think a few of the international players were lucky enough to see a koala walking across the ninth fairway the other day.”
A top result at Bonville would ease the disappointment of her poor 79-74 exit at the Women’s Australian Open in Adelaide.
“You think your game is solid and you have a week like that…that’s golf,” Artis said.
At 29 and with a wealth of experience in Europe, Artis is not your regular tour rookie straight out of a US college.
“I’m an LPGA rookie, not a tour rookie, so hopefully that holds me in good stead for a good start in Phoenix,” Artis said.
