(13 December 2010 – Dubai, UAE)
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Denmark&aposs Iben Tinning had already announced her imminent retirement following the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. She probably hadn&apost imagined signing off from a distinguished career in such fairytale fashion, but the likeable European did just that with a two shot victory over Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist. England’s Melissa Reid was in outright third just one shot behind Nordqvist.
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rnTinning had entered the final day tied for the lead with Reid at 8-under par, with Nordqvist and Lydia Hall just a shot further back tied for third. There was a four shot gap to the rest of the field and it looked like a race between these leading four and it certainly turned out that way. Both of the leaders, as well as Nordqvist had played the front nine in 1-under par while Hall had dropped a shot to be three off the pace. Hall proceeded to take double-bogey on the 13th and finished with a 3-over par 75 to slide to outright 8th.
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Tinning took the advantage after she started the back nine with two birdies whilst Reid dropped a shot at the 10th hole and all of a sudden Tinning’s lead was three shots with seven holes to play. The lead was then cut to two shots as first Reid birdied the 13th and Nordqvist the 14th holes and it was ‘game on!’ Tinning’s lead was reduced even further when she made her only bogey of the day at the 15th hole and it looked like anyone’s tournament with three holes to play.
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rnNordqvist could manage only three straight pars however and signed off with a two birdie/no bogey round of 70 and it came down to Tinning and Reid on the 18th with Tinning holding a one shot lead. Reid had found trouble from the tee on the par-5 and it was just a matter of Tinning holding her nerve. In the end she holed a 20-footer for birdie while Reid made bogey and the trophy and €75,000 winner’s cheque was Tinning’s. Afterwards she said, “I still can&apost believe I won, it&aposs just amazing. I really tried to keep strong out there and it was tough sometimes but I cannot believe this. I really didn&apost think I had it in the bag until I got to 18. Obviously when I hit the third shot and it was close, I knew this is really good and that that would put some pressure on Mel, as well.”
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rnIt was the final tournament of the season which saw South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace capture her first Henderson Money List victory. In a season where both Pace and England’s Laura Davies notched five titles each, both players entered the final tournament with a chance of capturing the coveted money list title. In the end, Pace had done enough during the season as they finished tied 52nd and tied 19th respectively.
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rnAs far as the ALPG Members were concerned, Rebecca Flood capped off a fine rookie season with a tie for 15th at even par. In a season that netted seven Top-20 finishes, Flood finished 44th on the Money List with €49,129.32 in season earnings. Frances Bondad and Kristie Smith also made the cut finishing T31 and T35 respectively.
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rnEnd of season standings for all ALPG Members on the LET are as follows:
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rnKaren Lunn 22nd €91,488.17 (23 events)
rnKristie Smith 25th €84,793.61 (15)
rnFrances Bondad 27th €80,370.51 (21)
rnRebecca Coakley 36th €61,637.40 (23)
rnNikki Garrett 37th €58,592.26 (21)
rnRebecca Flood 44th €49,129.32 (19)
rnLynnette Brooky 93rd €17,475.41 (14)
rnDana Lacey-Johnson 100th €16,711.00 (16)
rnKate Combes 112th €14,490.05 (22)
rnStephanie Na 125th €9,645.65 (6)
rnJoanne Mills 144th €3,064.44 (9)
rnMianne Bagger 164th €1,155.00 (8)
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