Cassandra Kirkland of France came from a stroke behind

Cassandra Kirkland of France came from a stroke behind to claim her first professional title at the Sanya Ladies Open in China.  

The 28-year-old from Paris held off stiff opposition to post a final round 70 on a hot and breezy final day at Yalong Bay Golf Club.

She ended two strokes clear of fellow Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer and England’s Holly Aitchison, with a further nine players a stroke back in a tie for fourth.

“It was totally unexpected because I’ve struggled so much this year and I didn’t have my 6-iron, so I guess I didn’t have any expectations this week and I didn’t put any pressure on myself. I didn’t feel stressed out there so it was really good,” said the sixth-season Ladies European Tour professional, whose previous best finish was fifth at the 2010 Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Thailand’s Numa Gulyanamitta started with a one stroke lead but Kirkland quickly claimed the advantage after two holes, when she birdied and Gulyanamitta put her second shot into the water.

Kirkland picked up her second shot at the par-three fifth hole making a tricky eight-foot putt to get to six under and was two strokes clear of the chasing pack at the turn.

However, after a bogey on hole 10, her lead was cut to one shot and then she was briefly joined in the lead by Schaeffer, who birdied 14, 15 and 16, only to drop a shot on 17.

When Kirkland holed her second shot for eagle on the 317-yard par-four 14^th hole, hitting a full 53 degree sand wedge into the wind from 65 yards, she pulled three shots clear of the field.

“When I made that shot I was like, I think this is my day. I felt more confident of course,” said Kirkland. She bogeyed the 15^th but was able to close with three solid pars, earning a first prize of €37,500 and a two-year exemption to the Ladies European Tour.

Kirkland moved from 90^th to 45^th on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and when asked how she would celebrate her victory, she replied: “I’m going with a couple of friends to Shanghai tomorrow so maybe I will celebrate when I go home with my family and friends.”

Her playing partner, Aitchison, shot a 71 containing three birdies and two bogeys and said: “I had a quite frustrating day. I didn’t hole as many putts today. I played pretty solid, made a couple of mistakes, but that was expected in the wind.”

Schaeffer’s 69 included five birdies against two dropped shots but she was delighted. “I had three birdies in a row from the 14^th and I know I dropped one on 17 but I am very happy because my goal was to concentrate on the tough holes and play the last three in level par, which I did,” said Schaeffer, who will caddie for her boyfriend Francois Calmels in European Tour Qualifying School next week.

Young professional Lin Xi Yu, 16, and 35-year-old Yue Xia Lu were the best Chinese players finishing in a share of fourth on three under par after final rounds of 71 and 69 respectively.

There shared fourth with Gulyanamitta (74), Becky Brewerton (69), Sarah Kemp (72), Yue Xia, Carlota Ciganda (71), Pernilla Lindberg (69), Patcharajutar Kongkrapan (70) and Beth Allen (71).

At the prize giving ceremony, Kirkland was driven up the fairway in a golf cart with the French flag flying above before she and caddies from Yalong Bay Golf Club released doves into the sky to symbolise the ‘friendship and freedom of golf.’

The Ladies European Tour now takes a three week break before heading to Gurgaon near Delhi for the Hero Women’s Indian Open, from November 30-December 2.

Cassandra Kirkland secures maiden title to end six year wait

Cassandra Kirkland from France Cassandra Kirkland of France came from a stroke behind to claim her first professional title at the Sanya Ladies Open in China.   The 28-year-old from Paris held off stiff opposition to post a final round 70 on a hot and breezy final day at Yalong Bay Golf Club. She ended two strokes clear of fellow Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer and England’s Holly Aitchison, with a further nine players a stroke back in a tie for fourth. “It was totally unexpected because I’ve struggled so much this year and I didn’t have my 6-iron, so I guess I didn’t have any expectations this week and I didn’t put any pressure on myself. I didn’t feel stressed out there so it was really good,” said the sixth-season Ladies European Tour professional, whose previous best finish was fifth at the 2010 Hero Women’s Indian Open. Thailand’s Numa Gulyanamitta started with a one stroke lead but Kirkland quickly claimed the advantage after two holes, when she birdied and Gulyanamitta put her second shot into the water. Kirkland picked up her second shot at the par-three fifth hole making a tricky eight-foot putt to get to six under and was two strokes clear of the chasing pack at the turn. However, after a bogey on hole 10, her lead was cut to one shot and then she was briefly joined in the lead by Schaeffer, who birdied 14, 15 and 16, only to drop a shot on 17. When Kirkland holed her second shot for eagle on the 317-yard par-four 14th hole, hitting a full 53 degree sand wedge into the wind from 65 yards, she pulled three shots clear of the field. “When I made that shot I was like, I think this is my day. I felt more confident of course,” said Kirkland. She bogeyed the 15th but was able to close with three solid pars, earning a first prize of €37,500 and a two-year exemption to the Ladies European Tour. Kirkland moved from 90th to 45th on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and when asked how she would celebrate her victory, she replied: “I’m going with a couple of friends to Shanghai tomorrow so maybe I will celebrate when I go home with my family and friends.” Her playing partner, Aitchison, shot a 71 containing three birdies and two bogeys and said: “I had a quite frustrating day. I didn’t hole as many putts today. I played pretty solid, made a couple of mistakes, but that was expected in the wind.” Schaeffer’s 69 included five birdies against two dropped shots but she was delighted. “I had three birdies in a row from the 14th and I know I dropped one on 17 but I am very happy because my goal was to concentrate on the tough holes and play the last three in level par, which I did,” said Schaeffer, who will caddie for her boyfriend Francois Calmels in European Tour Qualifying School next week. Young professional Lin Xi Yu, 16, and 35-year-old Yue Xia Lu were the best Chinese players finishing in a share of fourth on three under par after final rounds of 71 and 69 respectively. There shared fourth with Gulyanamitta (74), Becky Brewerton (69), Sarah Kemp (72), Yue Xia, Carlota Ciganda (71), Pernilla Lindberg (69), Patcharajutar Kongkrapan (70) and Beth Allen (71). At the prize giving ceremony, Kirkland was driven up the fairway in a golf cart with the French flag flying above before she and caddies from Yalong Bay Golf Club released doves into the sky to symbolise the ‘friendship and freedom of golf.’ The Ladies European Tour now takes a three week break before heading to Gurgaon near Delhi for the Hero Women’s Indian Open, from November 30-December 2.

Keating collects second straight victory

Champion Stacey Keating being applauded by President of Lacoste SA Sophie Lacoste and victorious European Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal Australian Stacey Keating came from three shots behind overnight leader Diana Luna of Italy to capture the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Chantaco Golf Club on Sunday. The 26-year-old from Cressy, Victoria, recorded her second straight win on the Ladies European Tour after she earned her maiden title at the Tenerife Ladies Open de Espana a fortnight previously. Playing in the penultimate group, Keating was quick out of the blocks with four birdies in a row from the second to catch Luna. The Italian then made four straight birdies from the fifth to get to 15 under but dropped a shot on 10, opening the door again.   After Keating bogeyed the 13th, Luna was two clear of the Australian but Keating birdied 14, 16 and 17 to move one ahead with a hole to play. Keating thought she’d blown it when she bogeyed 18, but then watched Luna do the same, missing a five foot par putt which would have forced a play-off. Heartbroken Luna was forced to settle for her third straight second place finish in three years at the same tournament. Meanwhile, Keating described the feeling as ‘surreal.’ From right: Stacey Keating and her idol Lorena Ochoa She was handed the trophy by Sophie Lacoste, President of Lacoste SA in the presence of the recent victorious European Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal and former women’s world number one Lorena Ochoa. “Ten years ago my dream was to meet Lorena Ochoa so standing here is unbelievable so thank you to Lorena for playing in this event,” said Keating. “I think Europe’s win in the Ryder Cup also deserves a round of applause!” Successful team: Stacey and Darren Keating thanked her caddie and boyfriend Darren Peters, who has been at her side since she joined the tour in 2011 and through the disappointment of being disqualified from the Ricoh Women’s British Open a month ago, due her to signing for an incorrect score, to the joy of the last three weeks. “After the disappointment of the British I was really low in confidence, but obviously not now, so I’m very happy. I’ve been playing well leading up to the British as well so it was just how I was going to handle it mentally as well I guess,” Keating said. “I had no expectations because I was so disappointed and that hurt me a lot. Nothing on the golf course can hurt me like that now.” She said that she enjoyed competing under pressure: “I just enjoy it. I practice so I can be contending. As long as I’m contending I’m happy. Anything can happen in a golf tournament like we saw there. We were both disappointed to bogey the last but you know, that’s golf and I’ll take that.” A stroke ahead with a hole to play, Keating missed the green with her second shot on 18 and played a skilful chip from a difficult downhill lie to three feet but missed the putt after a loud fire-engine siren went off. Her final round of six under par 64 left her at 14 under, which proved just enough for the win, after Luna pulled her drive left into a bunker, hit up short of the green and despite playing a terrific chip which hit the hole, missed the returning putt. Two strokes back in a tie for third place on 11 under par were Hannah Jun of the United States and Spain’s Azahara Munoz, while fifth place was shared by former champion Trish Johnson, local player Anne-Lise Caudal and Carlota Ciganda, who moved into first place on the Ladies European Tour’s ISPS Handa Order of Merit. Stacey with the trophy, Lacoste’s best selling ‘Cathy bag’ and a Basque walking stick, called a Makila Lorena Ochoa, making a limited return from retirement, finished in a tie for 22nd place on one under par after a final round 70 and said: “I am happy. It was really a good week. I did make a few mistakes and had trouble a little bit on the greens. I was frustrated today, you know, I have to say that, but at the same time, I need to be happy. I am here just to enjoy it. This is more like an exhibition for me. “I love to see that the European Tour is growing so much. You can see that now it’s a really global tour, they play in so many different countries and travel so much and they have players from so many different countries and that’s really positive for the game. “You get fans and sponsors and TV from many different parts of the world and I think you can see the scores are really good. Finishing 13, 14, 15 under, all of those scores are amazing because today, we didn’t play an easy course. So I am sure they are going in the right direction and congratulations to them and also it’s nice to see that the players get along really good. They travel together, they spend time together. It’s important to have friends and enjoy what you do for a living so I want to say that I’ve been very impressed in a positive way of how well the tour is running and I wish them the best.” This was the last tournament in Europe for the 2012 LET season and the next event is the China Suzhou Taihu Open from October 26-28.

Luna hoping for third time lucky in France

Diana Luna fired a third-round of two-under 68 at Chantaco Golf Club on Saturday to take a three stroke lead into the final round of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France. The 29-year-old Italian ended the day on 11 under par ahead of Anne-Lise Caudal, Carlota Ciganda and Stacey Keating. Luna has finished second at this tournament the last two years. She lost a play-off to Felicity Johnson at Paris International 12 months ago and to Trish Johnson the previous year at the same golf club. She is hoping that it will be third time lucky on Sunday as she goes in pursuit of her sixth Ladies European Tour title and her first since the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open in June 2011. Luna said: “I’ve lost play-offs twice here in France and haven’t yet lifted the cup, but there are no Johnsons on the leader board today so hopefully this year is my chance!” Two clear of Keating at the start of the day, Luna extended her lead to four strokes after making three birdies in a row from the third, where she almost had a hole-in-one. She moved further ahead with a birdie on the seventh and was six clear after Keating bogeyed 11 and 12, but then dropped a shot at the 14th. Luna had a three stroke lead coming down the last and retained that after she and Keating both bogeyed 18. “I hit 16 greens in regulation today so I’ve been playing very good,” Luna said. Anne-Lise Caudal Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal moved up into a share of second with a third-round 67. She bogeyed the first but made four birdies in a row from the fourth. She dropped two shots in the middle of the round but recovered with an eagle on 15.   “I know I can shoot low on this golf course so I have quite a good chance,” said Caudal, from Ciboure, Saint-Jean-de-Luz. “This would be the best win ever. It’s the French Open and in my home town.” The 2012 UniCredit Ladies German Open champion hopes that Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal from nearby Fuenterrabia across the border in Spain would be out to watch her on the final day and potentially hand her the trophy at the prize giving ceremony. Carlota Ciganda, from Pamplona in Spain, is another relatively local player and has played a few rounds of golf with the winning Ryder Cup Captain. She started with a bogey but picked up four shots at the third, sixth, 15th and 17th for a round of three-under 67. “I think the tournament is four days so you need to be patient and hit one shot at a time. There is one more day tomorrow and I need to stay very patient. I’m playing good and if the putts drop I think I can win the tournament so I’ll try my best,” Ciganda, who won the Deloitte Ladies Open earlier this year in Holland. Titiya Plucksataporn First-round leader Keating will be going for her second straight title after winning the Spanish Open in Tenerife a fortnight ago. She held on to second place after a rollercoaster third round of 69, featuring four birdies, an eagle and five bogeys. “Anything can happen and that gap, that can change in three holes, can’t it, so we’ll see” said Keating. I feel like I’m playing well enough I just need to hole the putts.” Thailand’s Titiya Plucksataporn, Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Hannah Jun of the United States are a shot further behind in a share of ninth on seven under par. Plucksataporn entered the frame with a 66 that include only 23 putts and said: “I’ve been practising on the putting green a lot and I’m trying to read the greens: that is my key for this week. I think it’s very important to get the pace correct.” Meanwhile, Azahara Munoz will be playing aggressively in her attempt to lift her third career trophy and her second this year. “I need to go super low but why not? I’m playing really well and I’m starting to roll the better so hopefully I can give it a chance,” she said. Lorena Ochoa felt that she played much better in the third round having warmed up over the first two days. Lorena Ochoa She started with a pair of bogeys on the first and the fourth but made four birdies from the seventh for a two-under 68 to end in a share of 19th on one under-par for the tournament, ten shots behind the leader. “For sure today was a little bit better. I didn’t get the best start but I was able to turn around and make a few birdies on the back nine and it really made a difference. Now I’m under par for the tournament and I’m happy to say that,” Ochoa said. “Everything has changed for me: I’m hitting the ball a little bit shorter, I don’t have the same feel or the same touch around the greens and I made a few mistakes with my putter, so I think today was a better day. I’m starting to feel more comfortable. Hopefully tomorrow to say goodbye we can have a low round and really enjoy it.” Final round play will start from two-tees on Sunday, with the leading trio Luna, Caudal and Ciganda starting from the first hole at 11am

Keating shoots 8-under 62 to lead in France; Ochoa 7 shots behind

First-round leader Stacey Keating at Chantaco SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ, France — Australian Stacey Keating opened with an eight under par 62 in ideal conditions to grab a four shot lead at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France on Thursday. Azahara Muñoz of Spain Keating won her first professional title in her last start on the Ladies European Tour a fortnight ago, at the Tenerife Open de España.   The 26-year-old from Cressy in Victoria continued her solid play, starting with three birdies in a row and was six under through the turn at Chantaco Golf Club.   She three-putted on 11 but picked up three straight birdies from the 15thto record her career best round in two seasons as a professional. “I’ve been playing well the last few weeks obviously, but it’s nice to put it all together in one round,” said Keating. “I’m feeling very confident about my game right now and I’m happy where I am.” She hit 17 greens and made 28 putts, with her boyfriend Darren Peters on caddie duties. “Daz was on fire with his reads. It’s really nice putting on these greens. They are really, really good,” said Keating, who made nine birdie putts, with her longest from 30 feet across the third green and her shortest a tap-in on six. Virginie Lagoutte-Clement from France Chantaco, steeped in history, is the home club of the Lacoste family where former US Women’s Open champion, Catherine Lacoste, was president for 35 years before her niece, Camille, took over the role in 2009. The Lacoste sponsored players performed particularly well with Azahara Muñoz of Spain and French duo Virginie Lagoutte-Clement and Sophie Giquel-Bettan all at four under par, alongside Lydia Hall of Wales. Solheim Cup player Muñoz started slowly with two birdies against one bogey on the front nine, but picked up three shots in her last four holes. “I finished with three birdies in a row, 15, 16, 17, so that kind of leaves a sweet taste in my mouth,” she said. “I played kind of solid, but didn’t hit many good shots. I didn’t make many putts at the beginning but at the end I started rolling the ball much better.” Giquel credited a change in strategy: “I was more aggressive than usual. I used to aim for the middle of the greens and think that two putts is good. Now it’s like, go for the pin, even if you miss it’s not a big deal because you’ve got good chipping and putting,” she said. Lagoutte-Clement revealed that she hadn’t enjoyed golf for a year, but has been working with French mental coach, Emmanuelle Simtaine, for the last six months.   “I just try to feel well and I just want to play my game and take pleasure, because I can’t take pleasure for one year. I want to play my game and relax,” she said. Hall, who won the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters in August, was in the hunt for a second title and said: “I definitely like this style of course. I can be fairly aggressive and the greens are in fantastic condition as well. “They are very tricky: the greens are quick, so I had a couple of three-putts out there today. I played very solid, hit 17 greens, 10 fairways, so I think I missed only one fairway and played really solid.” Lorena Ochoa and her brother Alejandro, who is her manager and her caddie at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France Retired former number one Lorena Ochoa, playing at the request of the sponsor, shot a one-under round of 69. Ochoa won two majors among 27 victories before retiring from full-time golf in April 2010 to focus on her family and charities. After her first round on tour in two years, she said: "I think for sure, I made a couple of mistakes out there that made me mad, but I think it was a good day. I was trying to go around in par." The 30-year-old from Mexico admitted that the lack of practice had affected her short game: “I three putted a couple of times and it made me really mad, but it’s okay. I have to bear with some bad shots. I think tomorrow, if I get the speed right, especially on the front nine, if I feel more comfortable, I’m going to make more putts and make more birdies.” The second round begins at 9am on Friday, after which there will be a halfway cut from the field of 78 players to the leading 50 professionals and those tied.

Stacey Keating wins Spanish Open in play-off

Australian Stacey Keating birdied the first extra hole in a sudden death play-off to secure her maiden Ladies European Tour victory at the Tenerife Open de España Femenino on Sunday. Keating holed a five-footer for birdie on the 494-yard / 452-metre par five 18th hole at Golf Las Américas after she tied on nine under par with Germany’s Caroline Masson. “It was a tough day out there and Caroline and I both played well. It was nice to take it to a play-off and then get over the line,” said Keating, 26, from Cressy in Victoria.   Keating closed with a two under par 70 to come from a stroke behind Masson but it was a close final round duel in hot and windy conditions, with temperatures at 29C. The pair tied for the lead after two holes and the lead exchanged several times before Masson made a mistake in the play-off by hitting her second shot into a water hazard. Her third came up short in the rough while Keating hit a superb approach shot to five feet short of the flag. “All day it was very close and Caroline holed some putts when she needed to so it was nice and it’s always nice to birdie the play-off hole,” said Keating, in her second year as a professional. She added that the victory would make amends for the massive disappointment of the previous week at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, where she was disqualified for signing for an incorrect score when lying in a tie for 32nd place. “I’ve probably had the worst week of my life and the best week of my life in two weeks. It was very disappointing last week but this makes up for it, I can tell you. It will be all forgotten, last week,” she said, paying tribute to her caddie, Darren Peters, who is also her boyfriend and the support of her mentor, Karrie Webb.  “After the disappointment of last week she’s been great. Her and Karen Lunn, I have to mention her as well. They’ve been unbelievable. I don’t like to say, the veterans out here, but they’ve been great and they really have helped me and Kaz has been great out here this week.” Stacey celebrates her first win on the 18th green Masson, the South African Women’s Open champion in July, was left close to tears having come so close to her second victory this season. She said: “If you hit the worst shot of the week in a play-off it’s a bit unlucky and I got lucky that I could actually hit that ball. If you hit a shot like that you don’t deserve to win and Stacey played well. She made birdie and just congratulations to her.” Masson was a stroke ahead on 10 under par after a birdie on the par-five 16th, but she dropped a shot at 17 after hitting a poor tee shot behind a group of palm trees. She chose to chip out to the fairway rather than play a risky shot but missed her par putt. Masson had a shorter birdie putt than Keating on 18, but both players made par to stay tied for the lead. “You have to scramble and I think she did that really well,” Masson said. “A few more putts could have dropped but it’s always like that. I did it pretty similar to her when I won in South Africa, didn’t make many mistakes, a few good putts for par and that’s what she did today.” England’s Trish Johnson also came close to her 22nd career victory with a final round 67 that left her in third position. She made a spectacular start with an eagle on the first and a birdie on the sixth. A two under par back nine left her one stroke short of making the play-off and she said: “To shoot five under on the last day in pretty tricky conditions, you’ve got to be fairly happy. I’m a little bit disappointed to come up one short, I guess. I had a couple of chances. 17 was disappointing, I had a straightforward birdie putt and left it in the jaws short. You know the greens are slow but to be fair to them, they are slow but you can hole some putts: you’ve just got to hit them harder than you’re normally used to. I thought if I could finish birdie, birdie, birdie, I might have a chance, which obviously I did.” Australian Nikki Garrett, who led after the first two rounds, shot a final round 70 to finish in fourth place, while Carlota Ciganda and Tania Elosegui were the leading Spanish players in a four-way share of fifth place with Esther Choe and Lee-Anne Pace on six under par.

Garrett holds narrow lead at halfway

Australian Nikki Garrett made a final-hole birdie to retain her overnight lead in the second round of the Tenerife Open de España Femenino at Golf Las Américas. After a career low 64 on Thursday, the 28-year-old from New South Wales started the day with a three stroke advantage at eight under par and carded a second-round 73 in hot and breezy conditions to end seven under taking a one stroke lead into the weekend.   Nikki and her caddie Jeff Collington, who produces the official LET yardage charts Garrett started with a double bogey on the par-four third hole after hitting her tee shot into the water but scrambled with three birdies against two further bogeys. She birdied the fourth but dropped a shot at the sixth. She then birdied the seventh but bogeyed the eighth for an outward total of two over par before regaining her outright lead with a birdie on the par-five 18th hole. “It was probably 100 per cent different to yesterday. I fought really hard out there today and I suppose that shows a bit of character because it could really have been anything today,” said Garrett, the 2007 Open de Espana champion at Country Club Mediterraneo. “My putting saved my life, pretty much, so I’m quite happy with a 73. A little bit different to yesterday but I’ll take it. I didn’t really hit anything close so the birdie putt on the last was probably the closest putt all day for birdie. It was good. It wasn’t good, but it was a good result in the end.” Garrett was surprised to be leading as England’s Laura Davies was eight under when she teed off, but the Englishwoman triple bogeyed the last hole to slip back into a group at five under. “I’m a little surprised. I saw Laura, early on, was shooting the lights out and she must have had a bad finish, I’m not sure. It’s tougher in the afternoon. The greens are a bit slower and a bit bumpier and you can kind of see the grass growing in front of your eyes,” she said. Germany’s Caroline Masson, England’s Florentyna Parker and French duo Joanna Klatten and Celine Palomar were a stroke back at six under par. Davies, the 2010 champion, shared sixth place just two shots off the lead with Esther Choe of the United States, Australian Stacey Keating and Italian Sophie Sandolo. Local player Sara Beautell Largo and Carlota Ciganda were the best placed Spanish players in a six-way share of 13th place on three under, while the defending champion Melissa Reid shot a 71 to end one under. A total of 63 players made the cut, which fell at two over par with many players now in a position to challenge for the title this weekend. Tenerife Open de España Femenino 20-23 September 2012 Collated scores at the end of round 2: 137 - Nikki Garrett (AUS)  64 73 138 - Celine Palomar (FRA)  71 67, Florentyna Parker (ENG)  69 69, Joanna Klatten (FRA)  69 69, Caroline Masson (DEU)  69 69 139 - Esther Choe (USA)  70 69, Laura Davies (ENG)  69 70, Stacey Keating (AUS)  70 69, Sophie Sandolo (ITA)  69 70 140 - Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  71 69, Hannah Burke (ENG)  70 70, Lee-Anne Pace (ZAF)  68 72 141 - Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)  71 70, Carly Booth (SCO)  72 69, Trish Johnson (ENG)  67 74, Julie Greciet (FRA)  69 72, Sara Beautell Largo (ESP)  70 71, Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  71 70 142 - Anais Maggetti (CHE)  69 73, Miriam Nagl (DEU)  68 74, Veronica Zorzi (ITA)  68 74 143 - Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  70 73, Frances Bondad (AUS)  69 74, Charlotte Ellis (ENG)  72 71, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG)  69 74, Tania Elosegui (ESP)  69 74, Melissa Reid (ENG)  74 69, Ashleigh Simon (ZAF)  70 73, Stefania Croce (ITA)  72 71, Rachel Bailey (AUS)  73 70 144 - Bree Arthur (AUS)  74 70, Holly Aitchison (ENG)  73 71, Connie Chen (ZAF)  72 72, Diana Luna (ITA)  72 72, Lydia Hall (WAL)  70 74, Monique Smit (ZAF)  72 72, Carin Koch (SWE)  70 74, Malene Jorgensen (DNK)  70 74, Rebecca Hudson (ENG)  71 73, Beth Allen (USA)  73 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  74 70, Georgina Simpson (ENG)  73 71, Dawn Shockley (USA)  70 74, Sophie Walker (ENG)  73 71 145 - Jessica Yadloczky (USA)  72 73, Danielle Montgomery (ENG)  71 74, Line Vedel (DNK)  75 70, Lucie Andre (FRA)  73 72, Clare Queen (SCO)  73 72, Kylie Walker (SCO)  73 72, Henrietta Zuel (ENG)  73 72, Rebecca Artis (AUS)  69 76, Valentine Derrey (FRA)  74 71, Maria Ohlsson (SWE)  73 72, Rebecca Codd (IRL)  72 73 146 - Barbara Genuini (FRA)  72 74, Carmen Alonso (ESP)  71 75, Tandi Cuningham (ZAF)  75 71, Caroline Westrup (SWE)  73 73, Pamela Feggans (SCO)  75 71, Laura Cabanillas (ESP)  71 75, Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA)  77 69, Margherita Rigon (ITA)  71 75 Missed the cut: 147 - Karen Lunn (AUS)  70 77, Louise Larsson (SWE)  73 74, Lucy Williams (ENG)  73 74, Mireia Prat (ESP)  73 74, Sharmila Nicollet (IND)  72 75, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  76 71, Sofia Harkonen (FIN)  72 75, Caroline Martens (NOR)  72 75, Mikaela Parmlid (SWE)  73 74 148 - Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF)  77 71, Jenni Kuosa (FIN)  74 74, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)  74 74, Suzanne Dickens (ENG)  75 73, Virginia Espejo (ESP)  73 75, Patricia Sanz (ESP)  73 75, Caroline Afonso (FRA)  72 76, Laurette Maritz (ZAF)  71 77, Elisabeth Esterl (DEU)  72 76, Sahra Hassan (WAL)  70 78, Zuzana Kamasova (SVK)  74 74 149 - Yu Yang Zhang (CHN)  76 73, Chrisje De Vries (NLD)  76 73, Emma Cabrera-bello (ESP)  75 74, Alison Whitaker (AUS)  76 73, Nicole Gergely (AUT)  72 77, Vikki Laing (SCO)  75 74, Stephanie Na (AUS)  73 76, Eleanor Givens (ENG)  73 76, Marjet Van Der Graaff (NLD)  75 74, Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA)  73 76, Liebelei Lawrence (LUX)  76 73 150 - Linda Wessberg (SWE)  73 77, Cecilie Lundgreen (NOR)  76 74, Julie Maisongrosse (FRA)  74 76, Becky Brewerton (WAL)  78 72, Anja Monke (DEU)  76 74, Sandra Carlborg (SWE)  75 75, Charlie Douglass (ENG)  72 78 151 - Marieke Nivard (NLD)  74 77, Caroline Rominger (CHE)  72 79, Steffi Kirchmayr (DEU)  80 71 152 - Heather Macrae (SCO)  72 80, Adriana Zwanck (ESP)  75 77, Ana Larraneta (ESP)  72 80, Felicity Johnson (ENG)  78 74 153 - Alexandra Vilatte (FRA)  80 73, Maria Beautell (ESP)  71 82 155 - Kiran Matharu (ENG)  77 78, Mary Mattson (USA)  76 79, Marion Ricordeau (FRA)  73 82, Viva Schlasberg (SWE)  82 73 156 - Stefanie Michl (AUT)  79 77 157 - Mianne Bagger (DNK)  77 80 158 - Gemma Webster (SCO)  81 77, Mariana Macias Capuzzi (ESP)  76 82, Marina Arruti (ESP)  81 77, Elin Emanuelsson (SWE)  74 84 159 - Kelly Hutcherson (ENG)  78 81 160 - Martina Migliori Trapani (ITA)  79 81 162 - Lucia Cortezo Castillo (ESP)  81 81, Kym Larratt (ENG)  83 79 167 - Sabina Imboden (CHE)  84 83

Hedwall retains Austrian title

Caroline Hedwall made the perfect return from two months out through injury by successfully defending the UNIQA Ladies Golf Open presented by Raiffeisen in Austria on Sunday. The 23-year-old Swede compiled rounds of 67, 66 and 70 for a three round total of 203, 13 under to win by four strokes – the same margin of victory as the previous year- on a hot and sunny day at Golfclub Fohrenwaldh in Wiener Neustadt. “I’m very happy and especially coming back from injury. This is more than I could have hoped for.  I definitely wasn’t expecting to win and I just wanted to make the cut when I came here but I found my game and played really well,” Hedwall said. The second year tour player had no expectations coming into the week having been out from competition for eight weeks with a hip injury but stamped her authority on the tournament from the first round, which she co-led with Australian Alison Whitaker.  She had established a two stroke lead over Whitaker after the second round, which was immediately cut to one on the final day when the Swede bogeyed the first hole. Hedwall struggled on the greens at the start but then birdied four holes in a row from the sixth to establish a four stroke lead at the turn on 14 under.  The 23-year-old from Barsebäck rolled in a five-footer for birdie on the par-three sixth then birdied seven and eight sticking her approach shots close. She drove into a fairway bunker right on nine but was able to recover with a lay-up shot and then holed a perfectly judged birdie putt from seven feet. Three-time tournament champion Laura Davies of England was her closest challenger on 10 under at the turn after a five under par front nine containing five birdies, however a one over par back nine featuring two bogeys and a final hole birdie saw her end nine under in a share of second with Swede Mikaela Parmlid. There were hiccups on the back nine for Hedwall too, who bogeyed the par-three 10th and then the 12th after duffing a chip. However, she birdied the 14th to re-establish a three stroke lead and after Davies had bogeyed 15 and 16, Hedwall had a five shot lead with three to play. “After hole 15 I saw Laura miss a pretty short par putt on 16 and I was five up at that point so I thought if I’m going to lose this I need to play really bad. But at the same time, you saw Alison and people can hole shots so you need to stay focused,” Hedwall said. Whitaker holed her third shot for eagle on 18 to move up into a share of fourth place with the 2009 event champion Linda Wessberg and Anne-Lise Caudal. Davies, playing in the penultimate group, holed a 12-footer on 18 to move into a share of second before Hedwall made her par there to seal her fifth Ladies European Tour win and the €30,000 first prize. The Ladies European Tour now moves to Royal Liverpool for the Ricoh Women’s British Open taking place from Thursday, where we can expect to see more of Hedwall. Final Scores: 203 - Caroline Hedwall (SWE)  67 66 70 207 - Mikaela Parmlid (SWE)  68 71 68, Laura Davies (ENG)  70 69 68 208 - Linda Wessberg (SWE)  70 69 69, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)  69 70 69, Alison Whitaker (AUS)  67 68 73 209 - Veronica Zorzi (ITA)  74 66 69, Henrietta Zuel (ENG)  71 71 67 210 - Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF)  69 70 71, Margherita Rigon (ITA)  73 69 68, Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  70 68 72, Trish Johnson (ENG)  69 71 70 211 - Julie Greciet (FRA)  72 68 71, Lisa Holm Sorensen (DNK)  70 71 70, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG)  72 69 70, Laura Cabanillas (ESP)  70 70 71, Melissa Reid (ENG)  71 67 73 212 - Line Vedel (DNK)  73 68 71, Caroline Afonso (FRA)  73 70 69, Carly Booth (SCO)  71 69 72 213 - Beth Allen (USA)  70 70 73, Marjet Van Der Graaff (NLD)  74 70 69 214 - Carin Koch (SWE)  72 70 72, Joanna Klatten (FRA)  71 68 75, Liebelei Lawrence (LUX)  74 70 70, Rebecca Codd (IRL)  72 70 72, Jenni Kuosa (FIN)  70 71 73, Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA)  71 72 71, Stacey Keating (AUS)  68 75 71 215 - Anna Scott (ENG)  75 68 72, Sahra Hassan (WAL)  72 72 71, Anja Monke (DEU)  73 70 72 216 - Louise Larsson (SWE)  71 71 74, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  68 75 73, Kyra Van Leeuwen (NLD)  73 71 72, Stefania Croce (ITA)  69 74 73, Rebecca Artis (AUS)  69 73 74, Stefanie Michl (AUT)  70 74 72, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)  72 72 72, Jade Schaeffer (FRA)  76 68 72 217 - Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  72 72 73, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA)  71 72 74, Sophie Walker (ENG)  74 68 75, Anais Maggetti (CHE)  71 69 77 218 - Frances Bondad (AUS)  71 73 74, Becky Brewerton (WAL)  73 71 74, Felicity Johnson (ENG)  72 71 75 219 - Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA)  71 73 75 220 - Chrisje De Vries (NLD)  72 72 76, Jessica Yadloczky (USA)  71 71 78 221 - Alexandra Vilatte (FRA)  70 74 77 223 - Kym Larratt (ENG)  71 72 80

Laura Davies chases fourth Austrian title

Laura Davies will go for her fourth victory at the UNIQA Ladies Golf Open presented by Raiffeisen in Austria from September 7-9 this week. Britain’s most recognised woman golfer will look to get back to her winning ways at Golfclub Föhrenwald in Wiener Neustadt, where won three times in a span of four years in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and finished second to Sweden’s Linda Wessberg in 2009. The 48-year-old from Surrey, who shared 27th place last year, said: “The course suits my game very well as it enables me to hit a lot of drivers. My game is good but I need to hole some putts to have a chance.” The 79-time tournament champion is still suffering from an injured Achilles tendon, aggravated whilst playing football during the Evian Masters in late July and added: “I’ve had a complete week off resting my ankle, which still hurts.”   The 2011 event champion, Caroline Hedwall of Sweden, is returning from a hip injury to defend the title and is joined by her twin sister Jacqueline who has received a sponsor’s invitation. There are eight of this year’s Ladies European Tour champions in the field with England’s Melissa Reid, Wales’ Lydia Hall, Germany’s Caroline Masson, Denmark’s Line Vedel, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal, Scotland’s Carly Booth and Australian Karen Lunn, who are all trying to become multiple champions on tour this season, with the exception of current ISPS Handa order of merit leader Booth, who has won twice, in Scotland and Switzerland. Austrian hopes lie with Stefanie Michl and Nicole Gergely, the 2009 Open de France champion, who was hampered by a thumb injury until recently. Michl has a season-best tie for 13th in Germany and was tied for 14th at the recent ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters. Fellow Austrian professional Eva Steinberger has received an invitation along with five amateurs from the Austrian Golf Federation ranking: Nina Mühl (ranked 2nd), Anja Purgauer (3rd), Marlene Krejcy (5th), Nicola Wolf (7th) and Sarah Schober (10th), Italian pair Alessandra Averna and Sophie Sandolo and Swiss player Fabienne In-Albon. The golf course has been immaculately prepared for the eighth edition of the tournament by the greens staff under the leadership of Wayne Beasley. A new 13th green has been opened next to the fourth hole, which will be considered the second signature hole on the course after the attractive par-three 16th, which plays over a lake. Recent additions also include new stone bridges on holes one, nine, 13, 17 and 18. In total, 108 players will contest the 54-hole stroke play event with a 36-hole cut to leading 50 professionals and ties after round two. The championship features 200,000 euro prize money with a 30,000 euro first prize. At the conclusion of the tournament at approximately 3pm on Sunday, a private jet will be waiting to whisk a handful of the leading players off to the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Liverpool. The weather in Austria is set fair for the week however there will be a chance of some showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon. Drier and cooler conditions will move back in for the Pro Am on Thursday and continue through the weekend with highs ranging from 22-24 degrees Celsius and winds blowing from the north. The new 13th green

Lydia Hall scores maiden win at ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters

Lydia Hall clinched her maiden win in dramatic style as she came from two shots behind to take the inaugural ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in England on Saturday. The 24-year-old Welshwoman, who held a share of the lead after day one, shot rounds of 66, 71 and 72 for a fantastic seven under par 54-hole total. She sealed a one stroke victory over Beth Allen of the United States in glorious conditions at the stunning parkland course, which was hosting the tournament for the first time. “I’m over the moon, obviously,” said Hall. “I’ve been waiting to win a tournament for the last five years since I came on tour. I came in close at Q School and it’s been a while. I’ve done well in Dubai the last few years but obviously today was one of my first experiences of final group and all of the pressures that come with that.” It was a double success for the town of Bridgend, home to Hall and her experienced Tour caddie Lee Griffiths, who was on the bag for the first time. “It was good to have Lee on the bag who is experienced as he kept me calm and focused throughout the round,” Hall said. Griffiths, who has worked for the likes of international players such as Melissa Reid and Anja Monke, commented: “We are both from Bridgend. I played all my golf as a kid with Lydia’s coach so we go way back, myself and John Peters. John has always told me, he said, ‘big man, you could do a job for Lydia one day’ and it happened this week. “It’s the first time I’ve worked for a Welsh girl. The Taffy were in operation today. I’m made up for her because she’s been knocking at the door for some time.” Hall started out two behind the overnight leader, Ashleigh Simon, her partner in the last pairing, but had moved one clear of the field after three birdies in her first 11 holes, at the second, ninth and 11th. After striking a beautiful approach shot to around a foot at the par-four 11th, Hall endured a mid-round crisis as she pulled her tee shot left at the par-three 12th and duffed a chip from the rough resulting in a double bogey five. She then found the left jungle on 13 and had to hack out, dropping another shot there. Allen moved two shots clear with a birdie on 14 after getting up and down from the bunker, but after a 10 minute wait on the tee, Hall felt mentally prepared to start again. At the par-five 14th, she played a beautiful chip to around a foot from the hole and sank the birdie putt to stay one behind. It was at the par-four 17thwhere the drama unravelled. Allen was a stroke clear with two holes to go and played her tee shot safely to the fairway, rather than taking on the water to go for the green. After hitting her second shot into the bunker, she opted to take a penalty drop because the ball was completely imbedded and from there she hit her ball around 20 feet past the flag and three-putted for a triple bogey seven to drop two behind Hall. After watching the drama from the 17th tee, Hall confidently drove her ball over the lake, 244 yards to the front edge of the green and three putted for a solid par to stay two clear with a hole to play. At the par-three 18th, Hall’s ball came to rest around 35 feet shot of the hole and her second putt hit the edge of the hole, but luckily a bogey was enough to seal the win and take home the £45,000 first prize. Hall’s father, Wayne, a former Welsh rugby international and family, were on hand to witness the spectacle. “Absolutely fantastic, really great,” said Wayne. “The effort and determination that Lydia has shown since she was a kid has been absolutely fantastic. It’s only something she deserves. “We are really proud of her as a family. We’ve been waiting the last 13 years for her to win, a big win, anyway. For a Welsh girl to come to England and win is even better.” Allen was obviously left disappointed having come so close to her maiden tour win with rounds of 68, 69 and 73, but she finished alone in second, with six players in a share of third place a stroke back on five under par. They included English duo Trish Johnson and Henrietta Zuel, South African Stacy Lee Bregman, Australian Rebecca Artis, Swede Mikaela Parmlid and Simon, with Norwegian Caroline Martens and Denmark’s Lisa Holm Sorensen a stroke further back in a share of ninth on four under par. ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters Buckinghamshire Golf Club 16-18 August 2012 Final Scores: 209 - Lydia Hall (WAL)  66 71 72 210 - Beth Allen (USA)  68 69 73 211 - Rebecca Artis (AUS)  71 70 70, Mikaela Parmlid (SWE)  71 68 72, Ashleigh Simon (ZAF)  69 66 76, Trish Johnson (ENG)  69 72 70, Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF)  67 74 70, Henrietta Zuel (ENG)  66 75 70 212 - Lisa Holm Sorensen (DNK)  71 71 70, Caroline Martens (NOR)  72 73 67 213 - Anais Maggetti (CHE)  75 71 67, Julie Greciet (FRA)  70 69 74, Lee-Anne Pace (ZAF)  68 73 72 214 - Esther Choe (USA)  72 68 74, Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  70 70 74, Stefanie Michl (AUT)  72 71 71, Diana Luna (ITA)  70 73 71 215 - Frances Bondad (AUS)  72 72 71, Charley Hull (ENG)  70 74 71, Melissa Reid (ENG)  69 76 70, Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  70 76 69, Tandi Cuningham (ZAF)  69 75 71, Stacey Keating (AUS)  67 74 74, Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  69 70 76 216 - Rebecca Codd (IRL)  70 74 72, Hannah Burke (ENG)  71 71 74, Kiran Matharu (ENG)  69 73 74, Clare Queen (SCO)  73 70 73 217 - Sophie Walker (ENG)  73 72 72, Stephanie Na (AUS)  74 71 72, Rebecca Hudson (ENG)  75 71 71, Celine Palomar (FRA)  76 71 70, Sophie Sandolo (ITA)  70 75 72, Carly Booth (SCO)  71 74 72, Kirsty S Taylor (ENG)  70 71 76, Xi Yu Lin (CHN)  74 69 74 218 - Connie Chen (ZAF)  72 71 75, Caroline Afonso (FRA)  70 77 71, Marjet Van Der Graaff (NLD)  71 70 77, Lucie Andre (FRA)  72 72 74, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)  74 72 72, Holly Aitchison (ENG)  70 77 71, Alison Whitaker (AUS)  73 74 71, Felicity Johnson (ENG)  76 68 74, Lynnette Brooky (NZL)  74 73 71 219 - Tania Elosegui (ESP)  71 72 76, Stefania Croce (ITA)  75 71 73, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG)  72 74 73, Kylie Walker (SCO)  71 73 75 220 - Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)  72 74 74, Joanna Klatten (FRA)  68 76 76 221 - Carin Koch (SWE)  68 78 75, Zuzana Kamasova (SVK)  76 71 74, Caroline Westrup (SWE)  73 74 74 222 - Laura Davies (ENG)  66 77 79, Sahra Hassan (WAL)  74 70 78, Jade Schaeffer (FRA)  74 73 75 223 - Danielle Montgomery (ENG)  73 73 77, Kyra Van Leeuwen (NLD)  71 74 78, Veronica Zorzi (ITA)  74 71 78 225 - Laurette Maritz (ZAF)  72 75 78 227 - Louise Larsson (SWE)  72 73 82