(14 May 2012 – Antalya, Turkey).jpg)
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2012 RACV Australian Ladies Masters champion Christel Boeljon captured her second straight Turkish Airlines Ladies Open title on Sunday with a final round of even par 73 at National Golf Club in Antalya. Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom finished three strokes back in outright second on 4-under par, while Spain’s rising star Carlota Ciganda and Sweden’s Carin Koch tied for third at 2-under par.
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rnBoeljon, the 24-year-old who claimed her third LET victory on the Gold Coast in February, dominated the tournament. She either led outright or held a share of the lead after each of the four rounds, ending with a winning score of 7-under par 285, which matched the tournament record set by Lotta Wahlin in 2008.
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Boeljon started the final round with a two stroke lead but dropped a shot at the first hole and was caught by Ciganda after the Spaniard made two birdies in the first three holes. However, Ciganda fell away and a run of three birdies in four holes gave Boeljon an outward nine of two under and a three stroke cushion over Wikstrom.
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Her lead was cut to a stroke after she bogeyed the 10th and the Finn birdied the 11th but Boeljon had established a four stroke lead after Wikstrom double bogeyed the 15th hole. Boeljon still had a dream four stroke lead coming down the par-four last, but having hit a great drive, she pulled her second shot from 100 metres into the water left of the green and had to take a drop.
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Her first putt, which was uphill, raced two metres past the hole, but she made the returning putt for a bogey five which was enough to seal her fourth Ladies European Tour win. “It means a lot. To be able to defend is quite an honour and quite special so I’m very pleased to be here,” said Boeljon, whose first win on tour came in a team event as a rookie in 2009. “I stayed calm and hit some really good shots in. I was able to go low, two under at one point and I just kept that going. The back nine was a little so, so, but overall it was enough and I played strong throughout the four days.”
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The tight, tree-lined National Golf Club is one of the toughest courses on the Ladies European Tour schedule where strong course management is essential. Boeljon added, “You have to play well, hit good shots and if your confidence goes, the fairways just get smaller and smaller so you’ve got to keep that going. It’s tough because you need to put the ball in the right place and you need to putt well. Your short game needs to be good so it’s all around a good golf course.”
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Ciganda, who fired a course record seven under par 66 in the third round, started well and fought back from a run of five bogeys in the middle of her round with birdies at the 12th and 14th to sign for a level par 73. “I’m happy. I think third place is good. I think I played alright. My best part was my chipping and putting, so that helps a lot. This course is very hard if you don’t hit the fairways. Overall I’m happy with my game but I need to keep improving,” Ciganda said.
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English amateur Charley Hull, aged 16, finished fifth in her first Ladies European Tour event. She ended on 1-under par after steady rounds of 73, 72, 73 and 73 and said: “I’m really happy I came fifth on my own and I didn’t shoot over par at all, all week. I didn’t expect anything: I just go out there and play golf and have fun, which I did.”
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It was a mixed week for the ALPG contingent with six of 13 players making the cut. The best of those was Danielle Montgomery who equalled her best LET finish, in outright 12th at 3-over par. Bree Arthur continued her solid performances with a tie for 16th, followed by Sarah Kemp in a tie for 19th. Lindsey Wright (T23), Stacey Keating (T23) and Rachel Bailey (T46) also made the cut.