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From Fox Sports

January 31, 2008

LOUSY weather, poor ball striking and poor driving couldn''t keep Australia''s highest-ranked golfer down in the opening round of the Women''s Australian Open at Kingston Heath.

Karrie Webb shot a one-under 72 to be two shots off the lead held by Finland''s Ursula Wikstrom.

Like most players, Webb found the rain soaked course a difficult test.

"It was 10 or 12 degrees cooler than in practice, and damp, so the ball didn''t fly as far," Webb said.

Only two of Kingston Heath''s four par fives were within reach of most players.

But the greater difficulty was with the par fours, several of which also required three shots between tee and green.

Five of Kingston heath''s par fours are beyond 370m, the longest of them 395m which played at an average of more than 4.5 shots.

Oddly, it proved as difficult as the 335m 13th, one of the shortest par fours.

Webb handled the distance well enough, saying the worst aspect of her game was her ball striking.

"I was hot and cold with my striking," she said.

"I was a little scratchy at the start of the day then I hit some quality iron shots from my eighth hole.

"My driving was also hot and cold, but coming down the stretch I hit some good tee shots."

The saving grace for the world No.3 was her Putting for which she gave herself 7-1/2 out of 10.

"I''d like it to be sunny tomorrow," she said.

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