(Costa da Caparica, Portugal, May 9 2004) Sweden’s Cecilia Ekelundh credited divine intervention from the heavens above as she plotted her way around Aroeira 1 GC on her way to winning the Ladies Open of Portugal, sponsored by Lancia, her maiden title on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour.
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| Ekelundh – maiden victory |
With 60-yards to the pin, a difficult shot under the pressure, Ekelundh pitched it up the green, the ball took one hard bounce and disappeared into the hole like a rat down a drainpipe to move three shots clear.
But it was then she realised she had lost her late mother’s lucky heart charm necklace and the emotion was too much as she bogeyed the 14th. Johnson could have taken advantage, but three putted as her opportunity for her 17th world-wide win slipped away there and then.
Ekelundh gathered her thoughts and matched birdies with Wessberg at the 15th and when she holed a curling 20 footer on the 17th green to move three clear, the contest was over, the nerves subsided, but the emotions kicked in.
“You definitely need skill and lots of luck to win and it’s an amazing feeling now,” admitted Ekelundh, whose mother passed away four years ago.
