(27 April 2009 – Alicante, Spain)
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Australia&aposs team of Nikki Garrett and Joanne Mills have finished tied runner-up in the Communitat Valenciana European Nations Cup in Spain. The tournament was taken out by The Netherlands who were represented by 21-year old rookie Christel Boeljon and second year professional Marjet Van der Graaff, 26. They fired a superb final round 4-under par 68 to over take overnight leaders France (Gwladys Nocera and Anne-Lise Caudal), who tied with Australia and Italy (Veronica Zorzi and Giulia Sergas) in second place, with defending champions England (Laura Davies and Lisa Hall) in outright fifth.
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rnFrance started the final day with a two-shot lead over the young Dutch team with Australia a further stroke back in third with teams set to play “Valencian Cup” format. This is basically a derivative of foursomes with only one ball being scored with.
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rnThe Dutch got off to a flying start making three birdies in the first 8 holes, while the French couldn’t sink any putts and had dropped two shots. Garrett and Mills had posted two birdies and two bogeys to remain at 13-under par, now four shots behind Boeljon and Van der Graaff. Through 12 holes, the experienced French duo had reduced the deficit to just one shot, however dropped a shot at the 13th to fall two behind. Australia also dropped out of contention with a bogey at the 14th but birdied the final two holes to move up the leaderboard.
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rnThe team from The Netherlands showed impressive composure over the final holes for such a young team. They rounded off their supreme display with birdies at the 17th and 18th holes to wrap up a comprehensive 4-shot victory. Boeljon, who won the LET Qualifying School last year and then finished a credible 13th at the Women’s Australian Open in February said, “It’s a great start. I don’t think I could have asked for a better one so I’m very happy. We both played solid and well so we worked well as a team.” Her team mate, Van der Graaff, who finished 83rd on the money list in her 2008 rookie year added, “I think no-one thought we had a chance. We played great golf every day.”
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rnOn the final day, Italy produced the round of the tournament firing 8 birdies and an eagle for a 10-under par 62 to catapult up the leaderboard to tie with Australia and France. The Aussies were pleased with their start to the season with Garrett saying, “We didn’t score as well playing the Valencian format but we played pretty solid all week. A couple of putts on the 2nd and 4th day cost a bit.”
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rnThe LET takes a small break before the first full-field event kicks off on 14 May 2009 with the lucrative €525,000 Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open in Ticino, Switzerland.
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Photo Anthony Powter – Nikki Garrett