(13 September 2010 – Paris, France)
rn
England&aposs Trish Johnson claimed her second Ladies European Tour title of the year with victory at the €250,000 Open de France Feminin on Sunday. After taking a four-shot lead into the final round, it took a birdie on the first playoff hole for Johnson to complete the win over Italy’s Diana Luna. American Hannah Jun and Germany’s Caroline Masson tied for third two shots adrift of the playoff number.
rn
rnAfter a birdie at the first hole, Johnson proceeded to drop shots on the 3rd and 4th holes and this was the opening that both Luna and England’s Laura Davies needed. Luna, playing in the penultimate group had begun the day seven shots off the pace but three birdies around the front side saw her within two at the turn. Davies made an awesome start with an eagle at the 3rd hole and added birdies at the 8th and 9th to pull within one shot of the leader. She joined the lead with her third birdie in a row at the 10th before disaster. On the 11th hole, the winner of 75 tournaments worldwide overcooked her second shot and found a horrible lie between two trees. Two chips and three putts later and her chances had effectively gone with the triple bogey.
rn
rnLuna continued the pressure with birdies at the 10th and 14th holes meaning she was just one behind. Johnson birdie the 14th as well to pull two in front, before bogeys at the 15th and 17th saw the experienced campaigner under immense pressure heading to the final tee. Up in front she could see that Luna had birdied the final hole to join her on 14-under par. Needing a birdie to win, Johnson could only manage par and extra holes were required.
rn
rnIn the end, it only took one extra hole. Luna had her chance with a birdie attempt from 12-feet but missed, meaning that Johnson needed to make her three-footer to claim the title. She did just that to collect the €37,500 winner’s cheque and move up to 7th on the Henderson Money List. After her round she commented on her final round struggle, saying, “I didn’t struggle, but as fantastic as my putting was yesterday, it was absolutely appalling today. I don’t know what happened overnight. I knew it was going to be difficult to go out and putt as well as that and play as well and obviously on the front nine Laura made a real challenge. I certainly thought she was the one to beat and then she got a horrible lie on 11 and that just did her in unfortunately.”
rn
rnShe also said. “There’s something about France. I don’t know what it is,” referring to the fact that it was her third French title after also winning in 1996 and 1999.
rn
rnRebecca Flood posted her best finish of the season to be the best of the ALPG contingent. After three rounds of 3-under par 69 she entered the final round in a tie for 4th. Unfortunately, four bogeys around the back nine saw her slip to a tie for 12th. Rebecca Coakley continued her solid form finishing in a tie for 20th while Frances Bondad (T29), Nikki Garrett (T34), Kate Combes (T44), Karen Lunn (T51), Lynnette Brooky (T62) and Dana Lacey-Johnson (T66) all made the cut.
rn
The players move to Spain this week for the €350,000 Open de Espana Femenino.
rn
Photo courtesy of LET.