Castlerock LET rookie Annabel Wilson bounced back from a potential confidence-shaking third round 77 to post a final-round 69 and secure her first top 20 finish on tour at the Investec SA Women’s Open.
On another windy day at Erinvale Golf and Country Club, Wilson began her final round on the 10th and reached the turn at -2 after birdies on the par-4 11th and 18th holes and kept a clean card until she reached the par-4 fifth. Despite her first bogey of the day, she showed impressive resolve and responded with back-to-back birdies on seven and eight, before signing for a three-under 69 that lifted her into a share of 20th.
Lauren Walsh had entered the final round as the leading Irish woman and with a very slim, outside chance of claiming that elusive first professional victory, and after opening with six pars, she made a big move up the leaderboard thanks to an eagle on seven. Her joy was short-lived, however, as a double bogey on nine effectively killed her chances and she closed out the round with two bogeys in her final four holes to slip back to -3 where she was joined by Anna Foster.
The Elm Park woman, who also started on the back nine, came out firing and birdied four of her first seven holes but found herself back on level-par for the day just three holes later, making back-to-back bogeys on 17 and 18 and following with a double on one. But she’d regroup to birdie the two par-5s coming home and both she and Walsh were among the four tied for 38th.
At the business end of the leaderboard, Perrine Delacour secured her second Ladies European Tour victory courtesy of a round of 70 which included four birdies and two bogeys and was enough for Delacour to secure her second win on the LET on 14-under par. She was kept under pressure with the leaderboard constantly shifting on the final day, with so many players in contention.
The Frenchwoman produced a great shot on the 15th hole to give herself a tap-in birdie putt. She followed this up with another birdie on the 16th to make it back-to-back and a solid finish in front of the spectators.
“I’m really happy and this win feels pretty good. I didn’t start the way I wanted to, but I had a great shot on 15, probably my best of the week, tapping in a birdie and kept that momentum on 16 to make a great putt”, said the two-time LET winner.
“On the last hole, I just wanted to be on the green as I knew I was leading, but I didn’t know by how many shots.”
Home favourite Casandra Alexander took second-place on -12, with England’s Bronte Law and Australian Kelsey Bennett finishing tied for third at -11.
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