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| First-time winner Line Vedel from Denmark |
Denmark’s Line Vedel secured her maiden Ladies European Tour victory in the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open, firing a final round 69 on a weather-interrupted last day at Gray Bear Golf Course at Golf Resort Tale.
Vedel finished two strokes clear of Germany’s Caroline Masson with a winning total of seven under par. Italian Veronica Zorzi and Thailand’s Nontaya Srisawang shared third place on three under, followed in joint fifth by Australian Frances Bondad and American rookie Jessica Yadloczky.
Beginning the day tied for the lead with Finland’s Jenni Kuosa, Vedel made a shaky start with bogeys on the first and third holes.
Her tumble was halted however when play was suspended for an hour and 20 minutes at 9.55am due to thunder storms and she had time to gather her thoughts on the clubhouse terrace.
She then staged a stunning comeback with five birdies, starting at the sixth, where she holed an extremely long and sliding downhill putt from around 60 feet.
A further birdie followed at the eighth, giving her a level par front nine, while birdies at the 10th, 11th and 14th allowed her to complete the win and earn the €33,750 first prize.
The 23-year-old from Aabenraa, who is in her second season on tour, was understandably delighted.
She said: “I’m thrilled and excited. It’s just a big relief, I’d say, because I knew I can play against the best but also doing it, that’s another factor.
“I knew it was a tough day today and with my start I kind of felt the pressure a bit but I just tried to keep patient. I’ve been hitting the ball well all week and putted alright as well so I hung in there. I felt the nerves on the last couple of holes but I managed to hang in there, so it feels great.”
Vedel’s mother, Susanne, was carrying the bag for her and she explained that she felt calmed by her presence.
“Normally it’s my dad and when my boyfriend/coach is available, he’s on the bag, so they’ve got some competition now,” she added. With her victory, Vedel has also earned a place in next month’s prestigious Evian Masters tournament in France.
Masson came through the pack with her second round of 67 on Saturday and a final round of 69 left her just shy of claiming her maiden tour title.
“Of course I’m a little disappointed. I had the chance to make a few more birdies on my back nine to maybe catch up with her but I shot three over in the first round so after that first round, I think I should be happy with a second place. It’s been a good week,” Masson said.
“Line played so well today. I think seven under is a great finishing total so congrats to her and I should be pleased with a second place as well.”
Overnight co-leader Kuosa ended in a share of 47th place after closing with a 10 over 82, while Slovakian number one Zuzana Kamasova, playing on her home course, finished outright 60th after a final round of 79.
Final Result:
209 – Line Vedel (DNK) 71 69 69
211 – Caroline Masson (DEU) 75 67 69
213 – Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 70 73 70, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 70 72 71
214 – Jessica Yadloczky (USA) 71 70 73, Frances Bondad (AUS) 72 71 71
215 – Rachel Bailey (AUS) 71 70 74, Carly Booth (SCO) 70 72 73, Caroline Rominger (CHE) 73 72 70, Carin Koch (SWE) 70 73 72, Trish Johnson (ENG) 73 68 74
216 – Esther Choe (USA) 72 73 71, Julie Greciet (FRA) 73 72 71
217 – Rebecca Artis (AUS) 73 72 72, Lee-Anne Pace (ZAF) 74 70 73, Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA) 74 72 71, Tandi Cuningham (ZAF) 73 76 68, Lucie Andre (FRA) 69 73 75, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 71 72 74
218 – Elisabeth Esterl (DEU) 73 73 72, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 71 73 74, Mikaela Parmlid (SWE) 74 72 72, Stefania Croce (ITA) 76 71 71, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 74 71 73, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 70 73 75, Barbara Genuini (FRA) 71 75 72
219 – Sahra Hassan (WAL) 75 74 70, Connie Chen (ZAF) 75 68 76, Marjet Van Der Graaff (NLD) 70 76 73, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 72 72 75
220 – Hannah Burke (ENG) 77 70 73, Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 73 72 75, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 71 74 75
221 – Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 75 75 71, Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF) 72 74 75, Caroline Westrup (SWE) 73 74 74, Louise Larsson (SWE) 75 72 74, Helen Alfredsson (SWE) 74 73 74, Kylie Walker (SCO) 73 73 75, Bree Arthur (AUS) 69 74 78, Stephanie Na (AUS) 72 73 76
222 – Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 74 74 74, Monique Smit (ZAF) 73 74 75, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 75 72 75, Kiran Matharu (ENG) 75 74 73, Rebecca Codd (IRL) 76 74 72, Jenni Kuosa (FIN) 71 69 82
223 – Emma Cabrera-bello (ESP) 73 72 78, Karolina Vlckova (CZE) 73 71 79, Holly Aitchison (ENG) 75 70 78, Sophie Walker (ENG) 78 72 73, Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 73 75 75, Stefanie Michl (AUT) 73 75 75, Danielle Montgomery (ENG) 73 73 77, Caroline Martens (NOR) 73 75 75
224 – Mireia Prat (ESP) 75 70 79, Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) 75 72 77
226 – Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 75 74 77, Rachel Jennings (ENG) 73 77 76, Benedicte Toumpsin (BEL) 71 79 76
227 – Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) 75 73 79, Alison Whitaker (AUS) 75 75 77
228 – Matia Maffiuletti (ITA) 74 75 79, Danielle Mcveigh (IRL) 77 72 79
229 – Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA) 74 75 80
230 – Maria Ohlsson (SWE) 70 77 83
