(5 July 2009 – Larvik, Norway)
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Italian Diana Luna made it back to back victories – within the space of seven days – when she came from three shots behind to snatch a one shot victory at the SAS Ladies Masters in Denmark, Saturday.
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rnHaving broken a five year drought to capture the previous week&aposs AIB Ladies Irish Open, Luna prevailed by one shot from Spain&aposs Laura Cabanillas on a day when as many as ten players had a realistic chance of winning as birdies and eagles were flying in abundance during the final round.
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rnAt the commencement of Saturday&aposs final round, Italian Veronica Zorzi (66, 68) held a two stroke lead over hometown hope, Lisa Holm Sorensen, who had added a one over par 74 to her record 11 under par 62 in the opening round. Luna (67, 70) was lurking alone in third place a further shot back. On a course which was offered four par fives on the back nine – including the final three holes, the tournament was poised for an exciting finish with 20 eagles and 124 birdies having already been recorded on holes 17 & 18 during the opening two rounds.
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rnWhile Zorzi struggled to a one over par front nine, Luna and Sorensen were one stroke clear after completing the opening nine holes in 2 and 1 under respectively. Sorensen&aposs front nine was incredible, recording two eagles, two birdies, four bogies and one double bogey. A double bogey, bogey start to the back nine all but took her out of the equation and it wasn&apost until the 14th holes that she posted her first par. Meanwhile, Luna played par golf through 16, leaving her one ahead of Canbanillas. A birdie at 17, to Cabanillas&apos par, put her two clear until Zorzi followed behind with an eagle to pull within one.
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rnPlaying in the penultimate group, Luna played two great shots to the final hole, setting up an eagle opportunity. Cabanillas too had set herself up for a chance on the final green and made birdie. Under immense pressure Luna had the crowd gasping as she three-putted, to open the door for Zorzi who was watching from back in the fairway. Unfortunately for Zorzi, she would be dealt the same card, expecting a birdie, at worst, she made a final hole bogey to fall into 3rd place and hand the title to the Italian.
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rn"It&aposs incredible because honestly, I really didn&apost expect that, especially after three putts on the 18th. I was really sure I needed a birdie or even an eagle. I thought I had lost it." said a shocked but ecstatic Luna.
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rnFor Cabanillas, the runner-up finish was her best finish in seven years on the LET.
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rnAustralian Stephanie Na, playing just her second tournament on European soil, finished in a tie with seven other players for 3rd place. But for a quadruple bogey eight on her 2nd hole, Na could well have snatched a surprise victory. The 20 year-old Australian who holds conditional status in her rookie year on the LET, mixed two eagles (on the 9th and 17th holes) with six birdies, one bogey and the unfortunate 8, to post a final round 5 under par 68.
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rnLynnette Brooky was the next best of the ALPG Members IN A tie for 35th. Bronwyn Mullins-Lane and Mianne Bagger finished T47 and T49 respectively, whilst Frances Bondad, Joanne Mills, Karen Lunn and Dana Lacey and Marousa Polias all missed the cut.
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rnThe LET takes a one week break due to the US Women&aposs Open, before returning with the Ladies Spanish Open from 16-19 July.
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