Lavaki aims for open title

 By HENRY MORABANG

Coca-Cola Morobe Open amateur women winner Margaret Lavaki aims to do well in the PNG Open when competition tees off today at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.

Carrying her winning form from the Morobe Open to Port Moresby, the part Gulf and Morobe lass wants to give her best against the 14 other women, including reigning champion, Sophia Cragnolini.

The 19-year-old member of the national team is confident of doing.

Lavaki added a third national golf title to her name by winning the Morobe Open after 72 holes of golf over four days.

She won the 2011 National Junior Girls and Open Women championship in the same year in Port Moresby. 

She carded scores of 82, 78, 83 (in very wet condition) and 80 for a gross score of 320 for a massive 17 stroke victory. Runner-up was Eunice Parton, with a gross 337. 

Lavaki withstood a strong challenge from Parton to win her first Morobe Open women’s amateur title. 

After a five-month lay-off from golf, this was Lavaki’s tournament of the year after the national championships where she finished third. Her three scores in the low 80s and a 78 were deemed a remarkable effort.

Playing under Ribak Steverdoring sponsorship, Lavaki displayed some classic golf swings and was consistently the longest driver in the women’s division. 

Her performance caught the attention of Peter Hines from the PGA Australia Tournament Operation, who is the rules interpreter for this year’s Morobe Open.  Hines was impressed with Lavaki’s performance invited her to visit Sydney to train under his wife.