Queensland’s Jordan O’Brien surged to the top of the leaderboard at the 2025 Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Narrabri Golfie, carding an impressive three-under-par round.
O’Brien holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round, showcasing a composed and confident performance on the challenging course.
Reflecting on her round, O’Brien said she was thrilled with her play.
“I’m absolutely stoked. I didn’t come into today with any expectations—I just wanted to have fun,” she said.
“I had Kelsey [Bennett] with me, which was great, and we were joined by some really cool amateur ladies. It felt like we were just having a ball, and time flew by. So, I’m super stoked.”
Having learned from the previous qualifier at the venue, O’Brien approached the course differently this time.
“It’s such a unique course, and last time I was here, my expectations were way too high,” she explained.
“Today, I just embraced the fact that not everything would go my way. You have to go with the flow, and that’s exactly what I did.”
Coming off strong finishes at Mollymook and Wagga Wagga, she feels her game is in great shape despite a slight dip in form at the Australian Open last week.
“I’m feeling good,” she added. “You never know what one shot can do, especially with such strong competition this week. It’s tight at the top, so I’m focusing on playing my game, shot by shot, and enjoying myself.”
Hot on her heels are New Zealander Siyi Keh and South Australian Caitlin Peirce, tied for second at two under par.
Peirce, competing in just her third event since turning pro, displayed resilience despite an up-and-down round.
“It was a mix of early bogeys and birdies,” Peirce said.
“Getting close on the greens for birdie putts made a big difference. Being a pro doesn’t feel that different so far, apart from being able to win prize money, which is nice. A win here would be a fantastic start to my career.”
One stroke further back is Mollymook’s Kelsey Bennett at one under par, rounding out the final group for tomorrow.
Fresh from a top-ten finish at the Australian Open, Bennett credited her performance to a relaxed approach.
“It was good to keep the momentum going after last week,” she said.
“I definitely play better when I’m having a laugh all day, and Jordy [O’Brien] is perfect for that. We get along really well.”
Looking ahead to the final round, Bennett hopes to replicate the fun and success of today.
“I’d love for tomorrow to feel like today. Jordy was sinking bombs out there, so maybe I can do a few of those myself!”
The final round tees off at 8:30 AM, with the leading group scheduled to start at 10:05 AM.
Fans can tune in to the live broadcast from 10:00 AM via the Women’s NSW Open website and the SEN App.
