Kate Lanigan completed a stirring comeback to become Maynooth University’s maiden female winner on the R&A Student Tour Series in Rome.
Lanigan came from five shots behind Halmstad University student Kajsalotta Svarvar to win by a shot. She recorded a closing two-under 71 after rounds of 70 and 73 to finish on five-under 214.
Lanigan has only been in Maynooth for a fortnight and this is her first win in five years since the 2018 Irish Girls Close Championship.
Maynooth have plenty of male winners of Student Tour Series events, including Eoin Murphy who won in Spain last month. Lanigan, who spent her undergrad years at Trinity College Dublin before transferring to Maynooth to do a Masters degree in Sustainability, was grinning from ear to ear, especially since she started the final round with a bogey at the first hole.
“It was news to me that I’m Maynooth’s first women winner. I’m only in my second week at Maynooth, so this is fantastic,” Lanigan said.
“It’s also my first win in five years since the 2018 Irish Girls Close Championship, so it’s been a long time since I won.
“I had absolutely no expectations today. I was just trying to finish second or third to be honest, but I made birdie at the fifth hole and she made bogey and I thought I might have a chance.”
Further birdies at the 11th and 15th holes put Lanigan into a tie on five-under par with the Svarvar before the 17th proved crucial. Lanigan’s second shot to the par five rolled down a cart path to the right of the fairway and she could only chip back into play.
She then got up and down from 50 yards for a par. Svarvar, meanwhile missed a short putt for par and fell one shot behind.
“It was only on the 17th that I went ahead. We had a great battle and she’s a fantastic player – I wish I could putt like her – but I was glad to make par on the 18th to finally win after five long years. Not sure how I’ll celebrate tonight; I think I’ll let the boys decide for me. They’re used to celebrating Maynooth wins.”
Meanwhile in the Boys section, overnight leader Simon Walker of Maynooth University and Roscommon Golf Club carded a final round 75 and had to settle for fourth place as Italy’s Miguel Orzi also made history and became the first Italian winner on the Student Tour Series.
The Student Tour Series now moves on to Portugal in February at Vilamoura, Le Golf National, France in March before the final in St Andrews in April.
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