(16 August 2010 – Conwy, Wales)
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South Africa&aposs Lee-Anne Pace claimed her second Ladies European Tour title with victory at the €340,000 S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe on Sunday. She admitted in her interview that she generally gets a song into her head in the morning and sings it throughout her round. The reason? “It’s just preventing any thoughts,” Pace said later. The eventual margin was three shots over Holland’s Christel Boeljon and England’s Melissa Reid, with Frenchwoman Anne-Lise Caudal alone in fourth.
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rnPace headed into the final round with a two-shot buffer over Boeljon but that was quickly reduced to just one as she made a double-bogey to the Dutch girl’s bogey. This brought the rest of the field back into the championship but they both settled their nerves with birdies at the 2nd hole. Their rounds were eerily similar over the rest of the front nine as both players failed to make any mistakes but couldn’t capitalise on any birdie opportunities. Pace headed to the 10th tee at 3-under with just a one shot lead.
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rnContinuing their almost parallel rounds, both players made birdies at the 10th hole to put some distance between them and the chasing pack. However, a few groups ahead, Reid was on a run of six birdies in seven holes and by the 15th hole had joined Boeljon on 3-under par and just a shot behind Pace. However, Pace responded with birdies at both the 14th and 16th holes to open up a 3-shot lead and cruised home with two pars to claim a solid victory.
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rnFor Pace, it was a good start with new caddy Craig Barber-Ball, who also won this title on the bag of Joanne Mills in 2007. Afterwards Pace said, “Craig helped tremendously, we worked well together.” The €54,990 winner’s cheque moves her up to 2nd on the Henderson Money List, just over €1,000 behind Reid.
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rnKaren Lunn was the best of the ALPG contingent, storming home with a final round of 5-under par 67 to eventually tie for 11th place. Rebecca Coakley (T24), Rebecca Flood (T40) and Frances Bondad (T47) also made the cut but didn’t figure in the finish.
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The players move to Scotland this week for the €200,000 Ladies Scottish Open Presented by Event Scotland 1.
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Photo courtesy of LET.