Darcey Harry from Wales clinched her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) title at the Hulencourt Women’s Open, finishing three shots clear in Belgium.
Competing in just her ninth LET event of the season, the 22-year-old rookie – who celebrated her birthday yesterday – showcased remarkable composure on the final day. Heading into Sunday just one shot off the lead, Harry stayed steady under pressure, carding 68 (-4) to finish the week 13-under-par at Hulencourt.
Despite dropping a shot on the second hole, Harry headed into the back nine with a three-shot advantage. The rookie had a big turning point on hole 13 where she had an impressive long eagle putt followed by a further birdie on 14.
“I don’t even know what to say right now”, said the rookie. “I’m so excited. I didn’t think I’d ever picture myself winning on the LET, so it’s so nice to know I’ve finally done it.”
Despite showing a lack of nerves on course, she admitted she was definitely full of them.
“I think the last putt was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life.”
Commenting on her final round she said: “I started off with a bogey, but there’s lots of birdie chances out there as the course condition is so good. If you’re hitting good shots, you get rewarded, and I hit a few good putts today.
“I think I came out today to try and get a good score, so I wanted to prove to myself I could continue with another good show on the course. I wasn’t really thinking about the leaderboard which I think really helped me today.”
Harry had her boyfriend, Jacob Skov Olesen on the bag this week, a DP World Tour player, which showed the new partnership is clearly working.
“He was very good, so he’s not going to be allowed to go back to playing now. He’s actually carrying for me next week, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Harry was sharing an Airbnb in Brussels this week with fellow rookie Amelia Garvey, and joked the secret was having bolognaise at the same Italian restaurant every night.
This victory gets the Welshwoman into the AIG Women’s Open where she will be playing on her home course Royal Porthcawl.
“I was thinking that walking down the 18th and I was pretty nervous about not getting into that, so I think that’s another huge win for me this week.”
Harry finished second to Daniela Darquea at Q-School, and was in contention in just her second LET start. At the Australian Women’s Classic, she was joint leader after the first round, tied second after the penultimate round, and ultimately tied for sixth.
The 22-year-old follows in the footsteps of England’s Mimi Rhodes, the only other rookie to win on tour this season – having already claimed three titles.
Three shots back in solo second place was France’s Nastasia Nadaud who finished the week on 10-under par after 72 holes. Like Harry, the 20-year-old started the day one shot off the lead in T2, and a total of six birdies meant she finished one-under for the last 18 holes.
Garvey finished a further shot back, after having a great final round, carding six-under par around Hulencourt.
The 25-year old, who was joined by her mum this week and with her cousin Jamie Tipper on the bag, began the day in a tie for 18th but made an impressive climb, jumping 15 places on Sunday. She dropped her only shot of the day on the 5th hole and had an impressive back nine with an eagle and a further three birdies.
Germany’s Helen Briem finished the week in fourth place on eight-under par. The 19-year-old birdied the 10th, but unfortunately followed it up with bogey so meant it was par finish in the final round.
Ireland’s Lauren Walsh and India’s Avani Prashanth were both one shot back on seven-under par in T5.
It was a close finish for the top 10 with three players in a tie for seventh place. France’s Agathe Sauzon, Switzerland’s Emma Spitz, and England’s Cara Gainer all finished on six-under par in Belgium.
In the LET Order of Merit, Harry now jumps 25 places to sit in eighth place on 757.40 points. Rhodes continues to lead the standings with 1,610.38, followed by Czech’s Sara Kouskova on 1,417.47, and Gainer now on 1,259.68.
After eleven tournaments played, the most recent LET winner now jumps to second in the Rookie of the Year standings behind Rhodes.
The LET heads to the Czech Republic next week for the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, taking place at Royal Beroun Golf Club, 20-22 June.
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