England’s Holly Clyburn held her nerve and holed a three foot par putt to win the Bing Lee Fujitsu Women’s NSW Open at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney.
With rounds 69, 66 and 70 she finished on top of the leaderboard at 11-under-par and just one clear of NSW’s Rebecca Artis (68), Austrian Christine Wolf (64), Scotland’s Vikki Laing (67) and Switzerland’s Fabienne In-Albon (69).
Clyburn’s name had been on the leaderboards in a number of the ALPG major tournaments over the past month. She finished in a tie for second at the Oates Victorian Open early February, before being in contention at the RACV Ladies Masters, were she eventually finished in a share of 16th position.
Clyburn had to withdraw after the first round last week in New Zealand due to a hip injury and had no expectations. She rested for six days leading into the tournament week and thanked the physiotherapist: “I wouldn’t have gotten through this week without him,” she said after her win.
The NSW Open is renowned for exciting finishes and at one stage mid-way through the back nine, five players shared the lead at 10-under-par. It was a birdie on the par 4 14th hole which proved crucial. Clyburn hit her 3 wood off the tee, then her wedge into the green, she left herself with a 9 foot birdie putt which she calmly rolled in to break away from the group of players at 10-under-par.
It was the 24-year-olds third professional victory after wins on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series and LET. She was delighted.
“It means a lot, a have been knocking on the door for a few months now, I have been working hard and did not have any expectations this week after last week, so yeah, it has just been great and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am very happy, I can’t wait to see my parents and celebrate with them.”
Her family celebrations won’t be for another three weeks as Holly is in China this week for the World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills Resort Haikou, where she is representing England in the team event for 18 pairs alongside last year’s Italian Open winner Florentyna Parker.
