Czechia’s Sara Kouskova triumphed at the Santander Golf Tour – Malaga securing a single-shot victory at Golf Torrequebrada.
After rounds of 74 and 70 on the first two days, the 23-year-old started the third day four shots behind the leader and produced a final score of 67 to seal her second victory on the LET Access Series.
It was a great start to day three for Kouskova who rolled in birdies on holes one and six to make the turn in 34 (-2).
The rookie who turned professional only two months ago then sunk an eagle putt on the par-five 12th to get one stroke behind the leader.
“I didn’t think I would manage to come back being four shots behind, but it feels really nice. I had really good shots into the greens, including the one on the 12th hole where I hit a hybrid into the green in two and made the eagle putt.”
The first Czech winner on LETAS from 2021 added a key birdie on the 17th hole, signing for an error-free round and her first win since becoming a professional.
“The course was amazing, in great shape and I was so happy to be here. I came a few days earlier to practice, get used to the greens and it looks like it paid off.”
Kouskova, a recent University of Texas graduate kicked off her professional career with a runner-up finish at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge in early June, followed by a T13 and T22 places on the Ladies European Tour in Czechia and Germany, respectively.
“I’ve had a good season so far and everything has been leading up to this moment. I knew I could clinch another win and I’m incredibly happy it all came together in today’s final round.”
Italy’s Virginia Elena Carta finished runner-up at four-under-par with an incredible comeback on the back nine, carding five birdies on the last seven holes to put some pressure on both Kouskova and the leader.
Norwegian Tina Mazarino put on a show on the front nine to take charge all the way through the 15th hole and secured her best finish on LETAS, placing in outright third place.
Three players share the fourth position as Sweden’s Anna Magnusson, Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt, and the Netherlands’ Nikki Hofstede all shot even-par in the final round to finish level-par for the tournament.
One stroke back was Germany’s Lisa Marie Schumacher taking solo seventh place and finishing low amateur of the Spanish tournament.
Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer, England’s Jae Bowers, and Spain’s Natalia Escuriola Martinez tied the eighth spot to finish in the top 10 at two-over-par.
Germany’s Chiara Noja stays atop of the LETAS Order of Merit with 1,700.65 points as champion Kouskova has 928.30 points and jumps ahead to sixth place which secures the full 2023 LET card for at the end of this season.
