It’s a great day to be Anna Foster as the Elm Park golfer secured her best ever finish in professional golf, securing T2 at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open at Migros Golfpark Holzhaursern.
Foster played the best golf of her young career over the past few days in Switzerland, posting rounds of 67 and 66 on Thursday and Friday, followed by a three-under-par 68 in Saturday’s final round.
Foster was in the final group on Saturday, teeing off beside 36-hole leader Kasja Awrefjall and Australia’s Whitney Hillier. A bogey start for the 24-year-old didn’t seem to unnerve her as she followed it up with a birdie at the second, followed by a brilliant chip-in eagle at the par-5 third. Foster would make another bogey at the sixth to take the turn one-under-par.
As the leader Awrefjall began to stumble down the leaderboard, Foster and the chasing pack made their moves to climb into the winners circle and back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th saw Foster with a great chance, needing a birdie at the last to force a playoff.
Unfortunately for Foster, she made par at the last to finish T2 at 12-under, one stroke back from eventual winner Eleanor Givens.
This result has done wonders for Foster’s Order of Merit rankings as she leapfrogs 20+ places to sit 34th. It also sees her take home a handy €22,750.
Givens climbed three places in the final round to secure her first ever Ladies European Tour win in her 210th appearance. The 37-year-old posted a bogey-free 66 on Saturday to set the clubhouse lead while the final grouping took on their remaining two holes.
As both Foster and Hillier parred the last, it was delight for Givens. You can’t say it wasn’t deserved – the English woman made just one bogey all week.
“I’m so excited and really proud of myself. I’m a little bit in shock as well. I did feel pretty calm today, a lot calmer than I thought I would. I just thought come on, lets go for this.”
Givens’ post round interview was a joy to watch, as she went through all the motions that come with winning a tournament.
“This is life changing. I was looking last year at whether I still wanted to play or not. I decided, ‘no, come on, you’ve got this!’ You’ve got the ability to play and still compete. I’ve worked really, really hard behind the scenes. To have this trophy means so much.”
Both Alexandra Forsterling and Witney Hillier joined Foster at T2. 36 hole leader Arwefjall dropped to fifth at 11-under after a one-over-par round.
Spain’s Amaia Latorre ended the week in sixth on 10-under par thanks to rounds of 65-71-66. Her compatriot Harang Lee ended the week one back in a tie for seventh alongside Wales’ Lydia Hall after chipping in for birdie at the 18th.
On the LET Order of Merit, Givens jumps to 23rd after collecting 500 points for the win. South Africa’s Casandra Alexander still leads the way on 1,899.98 points.
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