Finland’s Noora Komulainen poses with the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open trophy signalling her maiden Ladies European Tour title at Beroun on Sunday after prevailing in a three-way playoff. Image courtesy let.com.
By Rahul Banerji
Finland’s Noora Komulainen captured her maiden Ladies European Tour crown in an emotional playoff on Sunday after nearly 14 years on the circuit and in her 199th start.
Komulainen began the final round one shot behind overnight leaders Lisa Pettersson of Sweden and England’s Charlotte Heath but turned on the heat to join the Swede and Australian rookie Justice Bosio in the playoff.
The Finn birdied her final four holes for a 6 under par 66 to set up the shootout on the par-5 18th hole at Royal Beroun which she birdied yet again for the win.
“I’ve been on tour for 14 years without a win,” Komulainen said later on the LET website.
“This is my first one so it means everything! I’ve been dreaming of winning in front of my husband and daughter. So to have my husband caddying and to have her here, this is a dream come true.
Solid display
“I was playing with Lisa and obviously she was playing incredible golf. I was playing really solid as well but I just couldn’t hole putts on the front nine.
“Then something just clicked on the back nine. I holed the putts coming in which was great!
“We will definitely celebrate tonight and then after next week when I go home, I’m making sure that we’ll have a big party at home with my family and friends!”
Behind Komulainen, Diksha Dagar carded a closing 4 under 68 tied 12th place while Pranavi Urs and Vani Kapoor also produced encouraging performances on Sunday.
Diksha finished the week at 13 under 203, her closing round featuring five birdies and an eagle on 18.
Valuable points
Although she set out close to the lead, missed opportunities in the middle of the round prevented a stronger finish though the Asian Games-bounder left-hander still added valuable points to her season’s total.
For her part, Pranavi produced one of the rounds of the day, a 5 under 67 that included a stunning late charge of six under on her back nine set uo by an eagle and four birdies.
That saw the Mysore golfer finish in a tie for 24th place.
The seasoned Vani Kapoor signed off with a 1 under 71 to share 49th place after earlier rounds of 68 and 70.
Avani Prashanth, Ridhima Dilawari and Hitaashee Bakshi missed the cut at 5 under par in the low-scoring tournament.
Italy’s Anna Zanusso finished fourth at 17 under, while Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea, who celebrated her birthday with a career-best 63, claimed fifth place.
For Bosio, it was a best finish on the LET while Italy’s Roberta Liti, Austria’s Emma Spitz, New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey and Slovenia’s Pia Babnik shared sixth place at 15-under.
Also read: Tie for Czech Ladies Open lead as three Indians make the cut
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