SBC Open

FINAL RESULT: 1-1-0; +2.79pts

Kane/Daniel LOST by 1
Koch/Gustafson WON by 21

A narrow loss and a resounding win, so overall a useful profit on the event. A good way to start the LPGA Tour season.

Matchup plays (1.5pts unless stated):

Lorie Kane to beat Beth Daniel -114 @ Expekt
Kane finished 2004 in better form and showed in South Africa that she had begun the new year in the same vein. The Canadian pairing had been the 1st round leaders and eventually finished 6th. A good exercise in sharpening the game for the new season, Kane should particularly be looking forward to a return to Hawaii where she has finished 1st and 2nd (to a playoff with Annika Sorenstam) in her last two attempts at the Takefuji Classic.
(also available at SkyBet)

Carin Koch to beat Sophie Gustafson -120 @ SkyBet [4.5pts]
Easy to side with the outright selection who has a 16-3-1 h2h record against her compatriot in 2004 and who defeated her by 12 shots in a single round in South Africa. Gustafson ended 2004 in good form, as did Koch, but was the weak link in South Africa and should struggle to again match her partner in Hawaii where she cannot match her top-10 finish last time.