After eight years of trying and in her 129th start, Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson finally became a tournament champion on the LET with a decisive victory in the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.
With a closing round of six-under-par 65, the 30-year-old from Orebro finished with a 54-hole total of 197, 16-under-par, at Golf Barrière in Deauville.
Having started the day with a one-stroke lead over her compatriot Moa Folke, it was an exciting final round battle as the pair duelled for the lead over the front nine.
However, a hole-out eagle at the par-4 13th, where Gustavsson holed her second shot from 112 metres using a pitching wedge, proved decisive and Folke bogeyed the next hole, giving Gustavsson a four-stroke advantage.
Although Folke birdied the short 17th, Gustavsson had two putts for a three-stroke victory on the 18th green.
Folke also made a regulation par to finish outright second and England’s Meghan MacLaren, the runner-up last year and playing in the final group, finished a stroke further back in third.
Gustavsson, who had recorded 16 top-10s including four runner-up finishes previously on the LET, following on from two victories on the LET Access Series, said: “I feel amazing. I’ve been waiting for this one a long time and it’s just really fun.”
Speaking about her second shot on 13, which landed two metres beyond the flag and span back into the hole, she said: “I wish I could have seen the shot. I just heard the crowd go wild and realised it was in.”
Gustavsson thanked fellow LET player Emma Nilsson for acting as her caddie and couldn’t hold back the tears when asked about the support of her husband and swing coach, Alex Wrigley.
Looking into the camera, she said: “Alex: we did it! It means a lot. We worked incredibly hard and I look forward to seeing him.”
When asked how she would celebrate, she replied: “Hopefully, watch the Ryder Cup tomorrow and see Europe win.”
Second year LET member Folke showed her class with a final round of 67.
The 28-year-old from Saby said: “I played really well. I’m happy, I did what I had planned. I stuck to my routine and I hit a lot of really good shots out there. I’m proud of myself. It wasn’t enough today.
“I know Johanna’s been close and finished second so many times, so I’m happy for her to finally get the win. I felt like until hole number 12, when I was just one behind, I was really close and I could get her, but then she holed out and you know, I couldn’t do anything about that. It was fun and I’m really happy for her.”
After closing with a 67, third placed MacLaren said: “I’m pretty happy with my day, to be honest. You always want to win if you’re that close, but Johanna was just too good for us. She had a one-shot lead and shot six-under, so there’s not a lot that you can do. I’m pleased that I had a good day and was up there in contention again.
“I feel like I’ve been playing well for a month or so and it’s nice to see it in some scores. I want to thank my coach Martin Park for all the help he’s given me this year. It’s been a big turning point the last few weeks.”
Sweden’s Sara Kjellker charged up the leaderboard with a 66 to finish in a tie for fourth alongside Laura Fuenfstueck of Germany on nine-under-par.
England’s Gabriella Cowley was a stroke back in sixth, while Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom ended along in seventh on seven under par and Czechia’s Jana Melichova and England’s Hannah Burke tied for eighth.
World no.5 Céline Boutier, a household name in France since her home major victory at the Amundi Evian Championship, closed with a two-under-par 69 to share 10th place with Rosie Davies, Marta Sanz Barrio and Emma Spitz.
Boutier said: “It was a little bit frustrating with my golf game in general. I didn’t have my long game on point and missed a few putts today.
“Overall, I’m not too happy with my game and I wish I had done better, especially with all the fans around, you want to play well, but I gave it my best shot and can only hope for a better game next year.
“It was fun and definitely nice to see so many people out supporting the tournament. The interest that people have in women’s golf is only going to grow so it’s nice to be a part of it.”
Boutier continues to lead the LET’s 2023 Race to Costa del Sol, but, with 500 points for her win, Gustavsson has moved up into second and is only 254.08 points behind heading into next week’s Aramco Team Series – Hong Kong.
