(10 August 2009 – Harlech, Wales)
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Following on from Scotland&aposs Catriona Matthew at last week&aposs RICOH Women&aposs British Open, another mum on tour has tasted success, with England&aposs Karen Stupples winning the S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe on the weekend. A final round of 2-under par 70 saw Stupples overcome a two-shot deficit heading into the final round. Overnight leader, Korea’s Amy Yang, finished in outright second after a 1-over 73, while Australia’s Katherine Hull finished third.
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rnAfter missing out on a Captain’s pick for Europe’s Solheim Cup team, Stupples had a point to prove. By the third hole she had gained the ascendency after Yang had bogeys on both the 2nd and 3rd holes. A third birdie in the first four holes saw the Englishwoman take a two-stroke lead which increased to three when Yang made another bogey at the sixth.
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rnStupples made the turn with the three shot buffer but made bogey on the difficult 10th hole to give the young Korean a sniff. Through the next five holes both players made a birdie each before Stupples made bogey at the 16th to have the lead reduced to one shot with two to play. Unfortunately for Yang, she matched bogeys on the last hole to fall one short of a playoff.
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rnAfter being presented with the trophy and the €60,375.00 winner’s cheque, a delighted Stupples commented, “I tried to let it go on the last few holes there but fortunately I managed to hold on.” There was also plenty of talk about her non-selection to which she said, “I knew I had to impress Alison (Nicholas) to get into the team and I think I was just trying too hard. I think the real Karen Stupples showed up this week.”
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rnKatherine Hull made her first appearance on the LET through invitation and acquitted herself admirably. With opening rounds of 67 and 68 she was just two behind Yang. Unfortunately, the back nine on the weekend proved her undoing. On Saturday she played it in 4-over par to fall off the pace heading into the last round. Sunday saw the World No.19 race to 4-under par through the first eight holes and back in contention. However, 8 pars and a bogey saw her have to settle for outright 3rd. Afterwards she said, “I’m really pleased with the front nine but I couldn’t get anything going on the back so it’s kind of bitter-sweet right now. It’s been fun. Hopefully if the schedule permits next year I’d love to come back.”
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rnRebecca Coakley was the next best placed ALPG Member, finishing in a tie for 15th, while Nikki Garrett played consistently to finish one shot back in a tie for 18th. Frances Bondad will be ruing a 10 on the 6th hole on Saturday, finishing with a 9-over par 81 to fall from 6th to 45th. She bounced back with a 1-over 73 to finish in a tie for 46th.
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rnThe LET resumes on 28 August 2009, the week after the Solheim Cup, with the €200,000.00 Finnair Masters in Helsinki.
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Photo by Anthony Powter – Katherine Hull