Bennett boosted by big finish ahead of Wolrd Ladies Championship (From Daily Echo)

Bennett boosted by big finish ahead of Wolrd Ladies Championship

8:45am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport

Brokenhurst Manor’s Liz Bennett this week heads into one of the biggest events of the Ladies European Tour season on the back of a sensational result in her previous tournament.

The 30-year-old finished in a tie for fifth place at the New Zealand Women’s Open last month and has now jetted off to China to compete in the World Ladies Championship.

Bennett shot seven-under-par in her final round at Clearwater Golf Club, in Christchurch, to storm up the leaderboard and secure one of her best ever finishes on Tour.

She pocketed nearly €9,000 in prize money and will be hoping for an even bigger windfall this week, as she battles for a share of the €500,000 purse at Mission Hills, in Haikou.

“You can’t complain at fifth spot, but it was fifth with a €200,000 prize fund, whereas fifth when it’s €500,000 is much nicer,” said Bennett.

“The competition in New Zealand is probably tougher as well, because you had the LPGA players there, and there won’t be as many of them.

“I know I can compete against the top players in the world, it’s just doing it regularly and having more top tens.”

Bennett’s performance in New Zealand marked the second top five finish in her Tour career, which is now in its fifth season, while it was the sixth time she has placed in the top ten.

“I went to New Zealand confident I was hitting it good and I knew I had a low score somewhere in me,” said Bennett.

“There was a horrendous wind, and I got the bad side of the draw the first day.

“It was a three-to-four-club wind, but I managed to hang on in there.

“The next day I played in the morning and shot an ok score, then the last day everything just came together.

“I hit it steady and before I knew it I was seven-under after ten holes.”

Bennett added: “At the end of last season I had a couple of good results, so I knew things were coming together.

“I didn’t really want the break over Christmas and New Year, so I was pleased to know I’ve still got it there.”