(22 August 2011 – East Lothian, Scotland)
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Scotlands Catriona Matthew secured a runaway on her home course at the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open on Saturday. Rounds of 70, 65 and 66 saw her finish ten shots in front of America’s Hannah Jun with Frenchwoman Caroline Afonso in outright third.
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rnMatthew, the 41-year-old playing just five minutes from her North Berwick home held a four shot lead heading into the final round after a course record 65 on Friday. With family and friends in support she closed with a 6-under par 66 on a fine and breezy last day at Archerfield Links, where she was given honorary membership after winning the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open. It was her fourth Ladies European Tour win and a first prize cheque of €33,000.
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rnMatthew finished on 15-under 201 after blowing the field away with six birdies and a bogey from holes two to eight. Her only mistake came at the par-three fourth hole, when she found the sand left of the green.
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rnWith a nine-stroke stroke lead at the turn, she simply played steady through the back nine before sealing the win with a 15-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole. She and husband Graeme, her caddie of 16 years, were then joined by their two young daughters, Katie and Sophie, on the 18th green, with her parents watching from outside the ropes.
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rnAfterwards she said, “I’m absolutely delighted to win the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open on my home turf on a course I’m a member at and I live along the road. I felt a little bit of pressure at the start of the week, so I’m just delighted that I finished well.”
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rnThe five-time Solheim Cup player added: “Playing in front of a lot of family and friends, there was definitely pressure and it makes it extra special. I don’t get the chance to play in Scotland very often. It was great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd this week.”
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rnIt was her second victory in Scotland in a 17-year professional career and her first Scottish win since the 1998 WPGA Championship of Europe at Gleneagles.
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rnEngland’s Elizabeth Bennett earned a career best finish of fourth on 3-under par, with Scotland’s Kylie Walker (69), Italy’s Veronica Zorzi (72) and South Africans Lee-Anne Pace (71) and Ashleigh Simon (73) a stroke further back in joint fifth place.
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rnIt was a slightly disappointing week for the ALPG contingent who would have all considered themselves in with a chance of a good finish in the 60-player field. Nikki Garrett was the best performed in tie for 16th at 1-over par, while Rebecca Codd (T25), Rebecca Flood (T25), Karen Lunn (T41) and Frances Bondad (T49) all finished in the money.
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