(Biarritz, October 5 2002) Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson emerged the victor at the season ending €165,000 Biarritz Ladies Classic, defeating fellow Solheim Cupper Mhairi McKay from Scotland at the first extra hole after a dramatic final day at Le Phare GC by the Bay of Biscay.
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| Sophie – stroke average leader |
McKay played excellently to give herself the chance of a playoff with four birdies on her back nine, but was still trailing the Finn until the final hole. With Hakkarainen in dire straits, McKay had the chance to end proceedings with a 12-footer, but it slipped by.
In the playoff Gustafson hit a massive drive, but the Scot took the upper hand when she knocked a sand wedge to four feet. Gustafson responded with a lob wedge to eight feet and holed the ensuing putt. McKay could not answer back, pulling her four footer left of the hole.
“It’s so great to have finally won again,” said Gustafson, who also secured the 2002 Wedgwood stroke average trophy with a 70.59 average.
“It’s been an up and down year and this is a great way to close out the season.”
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| Riikka – showed huge heart |
Spain’s Paula Marti, absent this week due to commitments in the USA, was crowned the Evian Ladies European Tour order of merit winner for 2002, keeping the title in Spain for the second year running after compatriot Raquel Carriedo secured the title in 2001.
And after a nail-biting vote from the members of the Tour, World number one Annika Sorenstam from Sweden was awarded the Waterford Crystal Ladies European Tour Player’s player of the year trophy by a solitary vote from Paula Marti and Denmark’s Iben Tinning.
Sorenstam has won ten times around the world this year and in four events she played in Europe, she has won three times – the Evian Masters, ANZ Masters and the Compaq Open in her homeland.
