Sweden’s Moa Svedenskiold, 22, clinched her second LET Access Series (LETAS) title after winning a drama-filled three-way playoff on the fourth sudden-death hole at the CSK Steel Women’s Open at HimmerLand Resort, Denmark.
Starting the day nine shots behind overnight leader Tereza Zapletal Kozeluhova (79), Svedenskiold carded a three-under 69 to finish at five-over for the tournament to enter a playoff with Ireland’s Beth Coulter (75) and German amateur Lena Geier (75).
On the first playoff hole, Geier made bogey while both Svedenskiold and Coulter made par to make it a two-way shootout for the title.
Controversy then struck on the second playoff hole. Svedenskiold thought she had won after making par from getting up and down from thick rough beside the greenside bunker, while Coulter missed her par putt.
Coulter proceeded to pick up her ball, thinking the playoff was over, and players began mobbing Svedenskiold on the 18th green in celebration.
Yet 10 minutes later, Svedenskiold was informed by a rules official that she had been assessed a two-stroke penalty for unlawfully building a stance in the bunker, which meant she made double bogey.
But because Coulter did not finish out, she was assessed a one stroke penalty and was made to replace her ball on the green before also tapping in for double bogey to send the playoff into a third hole after much confusion.
Svedenskiold then sent her drive on the third playoff hole into the hazard area, but hit a good approach shot and two-putted to save bogey. Coulter did not capitalise, leaving her second shot from the fairway short near the hazard area before also making bogey.
The roles were reversed on the fourth and final playoff hole as this time Coulter sent her drive into the hazard area and Svedenskiold found the fairway bunker.
Settling her nerves, the Swede managed to dig herself to within 20 metres of the hole before hitting a superb chip shot and tapping in for par and the win as Coulter made bogey.
“It’s been a long day, so I’m exhausted,” Svedenskiold said. “Obviously really, really proud of how I handled it. I was standing in the bunker. The ball was outside and the rough. I took my stance, I hit the shot and made par. Beth missed her putt for par and I thought I won.
“Back on the 18th, I was just trying to stay calm. I was trying to stay in myself and trust my game. Obviously it was confusing at first, but then the ruling… there was an official behind me so I was okay, I’ll just continue trying to stay patient and played my game and ended up winning.
“I’m really proud of how I handled it. (On the third hole), it’s a really hard finish hole, with the wind just being across from left to right, pushing it towards the water. So I was just like I’m just going to take it from there. I hit it on the green and two-putted for bogey and Beth made bogey. There’s always a chance so just do your best.”
On a blustery day with strong winds, players struggled to make pars with overnight leader Zapletal Kozeluhova slumping to a seven-over 79 to finish solo fourth.
Yet Svedenskiold was unfazed by the strong winds and shot the round of the week to steer herself back into contention. From nine strokes back, it is the biggest comeback win on the LETAS in 2026.
“I was kind of far back,” she said. “And I knew that if you score even, like level par today or even under par, there might have been a chance to reach a top position.
“I tried to stay really aggressive out there today, and I made some really good putts, stayed patient and ended up shooting under par, which I’m really, really proud of how I did it and especially in these conditions all week. It’s been really, really hard with the wind and the rain coming on and off.”
After signing her scorecard, Svedenskiold had to wait for about two hours before finding out she had a chance to win the trophy.
“The tournament administrator said that you might have to stay for a playoff,” she said. “And I was like, well, maybe, maybe not. But, you know, I did. I had a lunch with my family and friends and, kept looking at the score.
“Then I watched a friend coming in and kind of knew that I had to start warming up, and then it was a play off.”
With four holes to play, Coulter was on three-over overall but made a double bogey on the par-4 15th to drop back into a tie for the lead.
The Irishwoman was bidding to become the first ever women’s golfer to win her first two professional events after lifting the Women’s Irish Challenge on her pro debut last week.
Geier too was at four-over but bogeyed the par-3 16th to also fall back to a tie for the lead.
Seven weeks ago, Svedenskiold won her first professional title at the Ladies German Challenge on her third start as a pro. Up next is her LET debut at the August 13-15 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
“My first win gave me an exemption,” she added. “I’m just really looking forward to that and obviously trying to gain as much experience as I can. My dad, my family and I, we rented a caravan and drove down from home.
“Took us, like, probably half a day. We’re staying just four kilometres south of here, in there. And it’s really cozy, actually, just making our own food and having a good time. We’re driving down with that into Switzerland as well.”
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