Veteran Australian golfer Sarah Kemp shot the round of her life at Coffs Harbour Golf Club today to catapult into the lead of the Australian Women’s Classic, and is a chance to capture her 13th professional win just seven months after a horrific leg injury which almost ended her career.
The magical 8-under 62 came on the 20th anniversary of her first professional start at the age of 19 (she’s now 39), and was, as Kemp puts it, one of those rounds which surprises even the best players.
“This has all been a laugh this whole day,” she smiled.
“I was making birdie after birdie, and I’m just like (to myself) I can’t believe it. This is such a shock.”
Related LINKS:
Tournament Website
Live Scores
Rd2 LIVE BLOG: When Harry Met Sydney
Kemp started par, then bogey to be one-over after two. What followed was nine birdies, seven pars, and the clubhouse lead by two shots.
It was meant to be so much different. With rods and screws holding the bones of her lower right leg together after that notorious golf cart accident in July 2024, Kemp and coach John Serhan only had the goal of Kemp being able to walk the course for 54 holes.
“So with the background of my leg injury, it was seven months ago, a compound fracture and I’ve got some rods and screws in there and there’s a bit of pain. I’ve got some pain bending down,” she explained.
“The goal was just to get back into tournament mode and be able to walk 18, 36, 54. That was the only goal that we had. So I still haven’t passed it yet.”
A win here would come so far ahead of her recovery plans that Kemp isn’t sure about the next steps if she lifts the silverware tomorrow afternoon.
“I don’t know,” she said of the potential change in schedule. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
A Kemp win isn’t the only fairytale on offer as we head into tomorrow’s final round of the Classic.
Thai sensation Arpo Wongras admitted after her post-round interview that one of her dreams was to play in the final group with her heroes Sarah Kemp and Grace Kim.
Wongras, already a two-time winner on the Thai LPGA Tour, fired a six-under round 64 to be at -7, but will play in the group ahead of Kemp, whilst Grace Kim struggled in her second round today and will need something special to be in contention tomorrow afternoon.
Harry had a colourful round, playing into the wind on her inward nine, but added a two-under round to her opening round of -6 to be at -8 and in the final group in only her second professional start on the LET.
“There was a lot of tricky holes out there,” the powerful 21-year-old Welsh player said. “I hit woods into three of the par fours, which made it a lot trickier.
“But the front nine was good. I’m just trying to keep it consistent, fairways, greens, and try to get the score together.”
Asked how she’s handling the extra attention, the cameras, the crowds, the clapping and the expectations, she answered with typical, young confidence.
“It’s nice to have people clapping when you hit good shots,” she said. “And people watching your good game and appreciating it.
“I definitely think I played better than I scored. So it’s a bit disappointing. But then again, I’m looking forward to going into tomorrow and doing the same as I’ve done the past two days.”
Joining Kemp and Harry in the final group is Belgian Manon De Roey who carded a bogey-free seven-under to finish the day at -8 and in a position to add to her two LET titles. After a solid opening nine of two-under De Roey birdied the 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th to soar up the leaderboard.
Equal overnight leader Sweden’s Moa Folke was even through her back nine to remain at -6 and with an outside chance of winning, but with winds predicted to reach 25km/h tomorrow afternoon anything can happen. Austria’s Emma Spitz also battled a little today, finishing her day even with the card and at -6, the same position she started.
Grace Kim was one-over for the day and seemingly out of contention at -3, seven shots behind her fellow Australian Sarah Kemp.
Rachel Lee, a product of Endeavour Sports High in the Sutherland Shire, is the highest-placed amateur at two-over for the tournament and in a tie for 42nd.
