Leona Maguire of Ireland. Credit: Tristan Jones
Leona Maguire made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to beat Sweden's Sarah Nillson in a playoff for the last full card at the Ladies European Tour's Lalla Aicha Tour School in Morocco.
The Slieve Russell star (24) was forced to use all her vast experience to clinch the last of five Category 5C cards, closing with an immaculate, five-under 67 at Amelkis Golf Club in Marrakesh to tie with Nillson on 13-under par.
“I’m delighted,” Leona said after her brilliant finish to a gruelling first season in the professional ranks. “To come as close as I did at LPGA Q-School, it you’d have been a little tough to swallow if I came that close again at this one.”
Here’s @Leona_maguire holing from 15 feet in the playoff to win her card at the @LATSchool @LETgolf That little fist pump will look familiar to quite a few in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/riECeuUIM1
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) December 20, 2018
The Swedish player carded a six-under 66 to edge into fifth place on her own before Maguire birdied the 16th to draw level and then parred the last two holes to tie for fifth on 13-under 347.
The pair then headed to the 37-yard, par-four 10th where Leona hit a nine iron to 15 feet and after watching Nillson lip out for birdie, poured in her putt to secure a Category 5 cards that gives her many options next season.
“I knew a top five was what I need to do at the start of the week and while I didn’t quite birdie the last [in regulation, missing from 12 feet], I played some really great golf today, probably some of the best I’ve played this week,” said Leona, who birdied the sixth, eight, 10th, 12th and 16th before sealing the deal in sudden-death.
“It was nice to get that birdie down 10 in the playoff — the 10th was good to me today.”
Leona has a full category on the Symetra Tour next year and while she’s also certain to get invitations to play in LPGA Tour events, a LET card gives her more options.
The Symetra Tour doesn’t start until March so she is likely to play some early season events on the Ladies European Tour at the very least and will sit down with the diary and work out a schedule over the Christmas and New Year break.
England's Bronte Law claimed the top card on 26-under par, closing with a 67 to win by a shot from Sweden's Linnea Strom. whp shot 66, on 26-under.
German amateur Esther Henseleit was third on 18-under after a 64 with England's Sian Evans two shots further back in fourth after a 67.
from News - Irish Golf Desk https://ift.tt/2A4S3T2
No comments:
Post a Comment