It only took one hole for French amateur Alice Kong to beat three other professionals in a four-way playoff to clinch victory at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge.
In regulation play, Kong fired a round of 70 (-1) to find herself in a four-way playoff alongside Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer, England’s Gemma Clews and Australia’s Justice Bosio.
The second player to putt, Kong showed mental strength beyond her age to hold a 13-foot putt for birdie and clinch victory.
“I’m so happy I won with that putt because it has been my weakness this year and winning this tournament because of my putting makes me feel so proud about the hard work I have put in.”
It was a Father’s Day to remember for Kong who had her father and coach on the bag with her this week.
“It was good to have my father on the bag. I have had him since I was little. So, I think that he’s a great coach and caddie.”
Kong follows in the footsteps of her friend and teammate, Sara Brentcheneff who won earlier this season at the Super Bock Ladies Open.
“She inspired me so much. I’m good friends with her and I think that yeah, she plays very well.”
Kong, who is ranked 145th on the Women’s Amateur Golf Rankings, has an impressive resume already in amateur golf having competed in the PING Junior Solheim Cup and earlier this year she made two top 10 finishes on LETAS in her home country.
Kong has little time to celebrate and soak up this win as she’s heading straight for the ANNIKA Invitational Europe held in Sweden.
“I have little time to celebrate but I’m excited and this will give me great momentum for the amateur tournaments coming up.”
Clews, Bosio and Muehlbauer split the cheque for the top professional. This was Bosio’s second playoff this season, having also lost out at the Santander Golf Tour-Avila.
Clews remains in second position on the LETAS Order of Merit and closes the gap to Denmark’s Amalie Leth-Nissen. 153.92 points separates them.
Whilst Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer moves into third position with 735.20 points after two runner-up finishes.
LET star Sara Kouskova narrowly missed out on the playoff after heartbreakingly missing a birdie putt on the 18th and 17th greens. The Czech talent finished fifth alongside Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson and the USA’s Victoria Tip-Aucha on par.
LETAS now has a week off before the Swedish stretch starts. The PGA of Sweden Championship Landeryd kicks off 28 June.
The event is co-sanctioned between the LET Access Series and the Alhsell Nordic Golf Tour with 156 players competing for a prize fund of 600,000 Swedish Kroner across two courses.
Simultaneously, the Cutter and Buck Tour will compete for an equal prize fund and play across the same two courses, Landeryds Masters and Landeryds Vastersbry Links.
For more information on the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge, visit letaccess.com and follow @LETAccess on Facebook, Instagram and X – #Access2LET.
