Matthew Wire to Wire in Ireland

(Dunsany, Ireland)

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew held off a late challenge from Norway’s Suzann Pettersen to post a wire-to-wire win at the Ladies Irish Open supported by Failte Ireland. Matthew claimed her fifth Ladies European Tour victory with rounds of 67, 71, 71 for a 7 under par total, one ahead of Pettersen and four clear of 3^rd placed Laura Davies.

Played at Killeen Castle, home of the 2011 Solheim Cup, Matthew continued her love affair with the course which brought victory to the European Team, buoyed by her commanding 6&5 win over American Paula Creamer. As was the case in the Solheim Cup, the finishing holes on Sunday proved dramatic when, having been in front since day one, Matthew found herself tied for the lead after Pettersen drew level with a 20 ft birdie putt on the 15^th.

Matthew, playing in the group behind, responded with a birdie of her own on 15 only to see the lead tied again after the Norwegian birdied 16. Matthew was up to the challenge however and after a par at 16, made a crucial birdie on the 17^th after Pettersen had bogied the same hole. This left Matthew, the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open Champion, with a two shot buffer playing the final hole, as she watched Pettersen miss he birdie attempt ahead of her. Following a wayward approach which found the greenside bunker, Matthew managed a stress free two-putt bogey to seal the win.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Matthew. “It’s always difficult going out in the lead. I was just kind of trotting along there at seven under and saw Suzann making some birdies. I think she thought she was in The Solheim Cup again. “I made a good birdie on 15 and then the one on 17 just gave a little bit of a cushion coming up the last, which was nice. I knew I had a two shot lead and I had seen what Suzann had done on 17 and 18 so I knew she was two behind so I reckoned I could make five from there.”

Nikki Garrett enjoyed a return to form to be the leading Australian in posting her best finish for 2012, tied for 4^th at one-under par. Her rounds of 73,72,70 tied 2012 Women’s Victorian Open Champion, Frances Joanna Klatten, and Swede Pernilla Lindberg.

Next best of the Aussies was Stacey Keating, tied 18^th followed by Frances Bondad (T34) Alison Whitaker (T42) Rachel Bailey (T52) and Lindsey Wright (T57).