Norwegian Cecilie Lundgreen captured her first LET Access Series title at the Kristianstad Åhus Ladies Open after mastering tough, windy conditions on the final day at Kristianstad Golf Club in Sweden.
Lundgreen started the round a stroke behind Frenchwoman Melodie Bourdy in second position but a final round of five over 77 was good enough to clinch the title with a six over par three-round total of 222, ending a shot ahead of Marion Ricordeau.
Lundgreen led for most of the final day but nerves began to show down the stretch as she dropped four shots over the closing four holes with two bogeys and a double bogey.
However a par on the difficult par-five 18th was all that was needed to avoid a play-off and Lundgreen duly delivered despite admitting to feeling nerves at the end.
“I did not know how I was placed as I saw no score boards on the back nine and when I hit the last putt, I did not know I had won,” Lundgreen told the Nordea Tour, which co-sanctioned the event. “You have no idea how I longed for this victory.” said a very touched Cecilie. “I have seven second places during my 15-year pro career, but never won.” She earned a first prize cheque for 6000 euros.
Sweden’s Lina Boqvist finished third on eight over followed a stroke back in fourth place by first-round leader Anastasia Kostina, with Swedish amateur Emma Nilsson a shot further back in fifth.
Bourdy, the second round leader, slipped down into a share of sixth place at 11 over with four other players after a final round of 83.
The next event on the LET Access Series is the Ljungbyhed Park PGA Ladies Open in Sweden from May 16-18.
Kristianstad Åhus Ladies Open
Final scores:
222 – Cecilie Lundgreen (NOR) 74 71 77
223 – Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 77 71 75
224 – Lina Boqvist (SWE) 72 77 75
225 – Anastasia Kostina (RUS) 69 80 76
226 – Emma Nilsson (SWE) 74 73 79
227 – Katy Mcnicoll (SCO) 72 76 79, Melodie Bourdy (FRA) 70 74 83, Antonella Cvitan (SWE) 72 75 80, Nanna Koerstz Madsen (SWE) 73 78 76, Julia Davidsson (SWE) 74 76 77
228 – Viva Schlasberg (SWE) 76 70 82, Isabella Deilert (SWE) 74 74 80, Eva Steinberger (AUT) 75 75 78, Fabienne In-albon (CHE) 72 76 80
230 – Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 72 80 78, Isabella Ramsay (SWE) 75 75 80, Julie Tvede (DNK) 77 77 76
231 – Galina Rotmistrova (RUS) 76 75 80
232 – Kelly Hutcherson (ENG) 72 80 80, Sara Wikstrom (SWE) 74 77 81, Mary Mattson (USA) 76 75 81
233 – Tamara Johns (AUS) 72 80 81, Louise Kristersson (SWE) 72 80 81, Iliska Verwey (ZAF) 71 80 82
234 – Laura Sedda (ITA) 72 79 83, Jessica Karlsson (SWE) 77 77 80, Krista Ontronen (FIN) 76 78 80, Lene Krog (NOR) 78 76 80
235 – Cecilia Ekelundh (SWE) 75 77 83, Cathrine Orioff Madsen (DNK) 72 82 81, Lien Willems (BEL) 76 78 81, Anna Dahlberg Soderstrom (SWE) 77 75 83
236 – Kyra Van Leeuwen (NLD) 78 70 88, Sohvi Harkonen (FIN) 74 78 84, Ana Larraneta (ESP) 77 76 83, Desiree Karlsson (SWE) 74 80 82
238 – Anna Svenstrup (SWE) 74 80 84