Haru Nomura and its Trophy Photo credit: GolfAustralia

Haru Nomura from Kanagawa, Japan came like a thunderclap at the Women's Australian Open ISPS Handa, winning her first title on the LPGA Tour. On the last day she made a series of three birdies in a row on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes.
In summary: “The putting… wow… Incredible”! The Japanese won with three strokes in front of Lydia Ko, the world number 1 New Zealand, aged 18 and defending champion. Australian Karrie Webb completes the podium seven lengths behind Nomura. Nomura has spent the last five seasons on the LPGA Tour and his world rank was 67th. She has now planned to climb to the 50 ^rd world rank.

On the French side, Karine Icher and Marion Ricordeau played 76 (+4) in the last round. The only two French women still in the running finished 47th and 71st respectively

HARU NOMURA interview 
ISPS HANDA WOOMEN'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN, 21/2/2016

WHEN DID YOU THINK YOU WON?
On the 15th. I made a birdie then on the 16 and the 17 is the whole.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL ?

A first victory on the LPGA Tour is very important to me.
I'm surprised she's coming so early, but it's just the cstarting, I hope ...

DIDN'T LYDIA KO'S CRIES OF ENCOURAGEMENT MAKE YOU NERVOUS?

It kind of encouraged me and I thought I should try to play even better.

DO YOU LIKE TO PLAY UNDER PRESSURE?
No I had no pressure.

NO PRESSURE?

No pressure.

NOT EVEN WITH THE PUBLIC?  No aN o. (laughing).

WHY ARE YOU NOT NERVOUS IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES?

Golf is a fight against myself. It's not against someone else, even the other person is playing well. If I reach my goals, then I have to win.

HOW WILL THIS VICTORY CHANGE YOUR TOUR PLANS?

Last year I couldn't play Thailand or Singapore, but this time it's different I won here, so I will play these next tournaments.

WILL YOU COME BACK NEXT YEAR TO DEFEND YOUR TITLE?

Certainly yes.

YOU WERE LEADER ON 36 HOLES IN THE BAHAMAS AND OCALA, BUT YOU DIDN'T WIN. WHAT LESSON WILL YOU LEARN? ?

I forced myself on these tournaments, but the third round was very tough.
But that I understood this.
That you have to believe in your own game and this week that's why I won.
If I had believed in my golf earlier so I could have won the previous tournaments as well.

WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING? OTHER AMATRIC AND PROFESSIONAL WINS?

I was 11 years old. I didn't have great victories as an amateur player, when I started playing professionally

After I turned pro, at 17, so I won a first titre in Japan,
the Bridgestone Cup.

DO YOU THINK YOU FROM YOUR LAST TURN TO LYDIA KO?

(laugh) you want the truth?

YES.

I didn't want to lose… I thought I was the best! (Laughter) Maybe!

THE JAPANESE CHAKO HIGUCHI, WON THIS TOURNAMENT IN 1974.
SHE BECOME A GOLF LEGEND IN JAPAN. ARE YOU PROUD TO BE THE FIRST SINCE CHAKO TO WIN THIS TITLE?

It makes me very happy.

AND YOUR PARENTS?
Certainly, I have a Korean mother and a Japanese father; i was born in japan.