Date: May 18, 2009
Author:

LET – SKARPNORD SECURES FIRST TITLE AT DEUTSCHE BANK

(18 May 2009 – Ticino, Switzerland)

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Norway&aposs Marianne Skarpnord claimed her first professional title at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open on Sunday. Her final round of 3-under par 70 saw her register a one shot victory over England&aposs Melissa Reid with Australia&aposs Karen Lunn a further shot back in outright third.
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rnAfter firing a 7-under par 66 on Saturday, Skarpnord went into the final round with a one shot lead. By the ninth hole, Reid had grabbed an eagle and two birdies to take a one shot lead. However, 3 bogeys in succession from the 11th hole saw her fall 2 behind. Skarpnord was on a string of pars before stretching her lead to three after a birdie at the 16th.
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rnThere was further drama when Reid moved within two shots with a birdie at the 17th. They then made superb approaches to the par-5 18th which Reid birdied. It took Skarpnord three putts to get down on the last but it was enough to secure the €78,750.00 winner’s cheque. After her round she said, “To get a win this early in the season is just great and now I can play Evian. Melissa and I both played well. We were even or one shot up or one shot down the whole round.
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rnThe win moves Skarpnord to the head of the official LET Henderson Money List with €88,414.68 in season earnings, as well as moving up to 8th on the Solheim Cup points table.
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rnChairman of the LET, Karen Lunn recorded her best finish since tying for 2nd in the 2003 La Perla Italian Open. She did finish tied for 3rd in last year’s Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open. The cheque for €36,750.00 was the biggest payday in her illustrious 17 year career (apart from her Women’s British Open triumph in 1993). She chipped in for eagle on the 18th to reach the 14-under par mark and move out of a tie with Sweden’s Emma Zackrisson.
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rnOf the other ALPG Members, Nikki Garrett closed with two rounds of 4-under par 69 to move up from a tie for 48th into a tie for 10th at 7-under par 285. Rebecca Coakley (T44), Frances Bondad (T47), Joanne Mills (T64) and Dana Lacey (T64) all made the cut but finished well back.
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rnThe LET moves on to Munich in Germany for this week’s €250,000.00 HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open presented by Audi. ALPG will be represented by Mianne Bagger, Lyn Brooky, Rebecca Coakley, Frances Bondad, Nikki Garrett, Lisa Jean, Dana Lacey, Karen Lunn, Joanne Mills and Bronwyn Mullins-Lane.

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Photo by Anthony Powter – Marianne Skarpnord