Olivia Mehaffey shot a two-over-par round of 73 on the final day of action at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville to finish tied for 44th, with Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson emerging victorious with a score of -16.
Gustavsson’s rounds of 66, 66 and 65 were enough to secure a relatively comfortable victory, finishing three shots clear of playing partner Moa Folke who made a late charge but failed to reel Gustavsson in.
With this victory, the Swede claims her maiden tour victory after finishing in the top 10 on 16 separate occasions across her Ladies European Tour career to date.
It was a rollercoaster of a week for Olivia Mehaffey, who hoped to make the cut for the first time on the tour since the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at the end of August.
An opening round of 74 was the opposite of what the 25-year-old would have wanted as she finished her first round on three-over-par in what was, unfortunately, becoming a familiar feeling for the Northern Irishwoman.
However, bucking the trend of following an over-par round with an over-par round, Mehaffey’s second round of play of 67 brought her back below par as she moved to -1 while also making the cut.
Today’s scoring was more reminiscent of her opening round rather than her second round, however.
A bogey-birdie start to her round was steadied by three pars as Mehaffey remained at level par through five holes. Two birdies on the sixth and ninth meant that she began the back nine on two-under-par for the day.
After a bogey on the 11th, Mehaffey regained composure and recorded a number of pars as she remained in red figures for the day.
The 16th and 17th were the holes sandbagged the Irishwoman’s round, with a double bogey-bogey run dragging her down the table to 44th, where she would finish.
At the business end of the table, Johanna Gustavsson was sublime throughout her three days of play, scoring at least five under-par every day as she strode to victory.
Although she began her round with a bogey on the first, three birdies on the remaining holes of her front nine brought her score for the day to two under par.
The Swede’s back nine started off with another birdie on the 10th before an eagle on the 13th brought her well clear of the chasing pack.
Although Gustavsson’s compatriot, Moa Folke, matched her birdie on the 16th and followed it up with a birdie of her own, there were not enough holes left to realistically challenge as Gustavsson claimed her maiden tour victory.
The four-time runner-up on the tour was ecstatic after her first victory and gave an unsurprising answer as to how she would celebrate.
“I feel amazing,” said Gustavsson, “I’ve been waiting for this one a long time and it’s just really fun.
“Hopefully, we can watch the Ryder Cup tomorrow and see Europe win.”
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