Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen, after two second places this season, fired a phenomenal final round of 68 (-4) to claim her first LET Access Series (LETAS) title by three strokes at the Montauban Ladies Open.
The 24-year-old kept her nerve to roll in a birdie early on the second hole. Two more birdies on holes seven and eight set her off to a good start on the front nine.
Kibsgaard Nielsen slowly extended her lead with two more birdies on holes 13 and 15 whilst a bogey on the 18th left her 13 under par for the tournament.
“I haven’t processed the win yet,” Kibsgaard Nielsen said, adding: “I was very shaky on the last putt, but I am very happy as the win is finally here.
“I feel like I have been chasing the win more today looking back, so it’s been the best, such a fun week and I am so proud of myself and how I managed to be on the course today.”
The LETAS rookie started the last day one shot in front of the first-round leader and playing partner for the week, Emily Price from England.
“I tried not to be nervous coming into the final day because I felt like my mind would take me to the win.
“I tried to relax, take one shot at a time and beat myself. I didn’t look back at the others and their scores I just focused on myself.”
Kibsgaard Nielsen has had a strong start to the season as the current leader of the LETAS Order of Merit with 548.88 points after placing second at two tournaments, the Flumserberg Ladies Open and Santander Golf Tour-Girona.
Now, thanks to her win in France, that lead will be extended by another 500 points.
Speaking about whether her goals for the year would change, Kibsgaard Nielsen said: “Winning was one of my goals for the year, but I still have a lot of goals for the season. All the work I have put in is paying off.
“I don’t know how I will celebrate, just have some good food and enjoy it with my friends here.”
Slovenia’s Katja Pogacar and Price occupied joint second place with rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
Whilst it was Pogacar’s first trip to the top-10 on LETAS since 2018, it is Price’s third top-five place this season and the Birmingham born player will be looking to follow Kibsgaard Nielsen’s example and chase down a spot in the winners’ circle soon.
The 13-year-old French amateur and invite, Alice Kong, became the crowd favourite after a phenomenal week, shooting rounds of 69, 68 and 71 to end the week in third place.
Elsewhere, Alexandra Swayne from the US Virgin Islands and Sweden’s Emma Thorngren shared fourth position after rounds of 69 and 71 respectively.
Australia’s Kristalle Blum fired a strong round of 69 to jump five places into seventh place and Spain’s Marta Martin ended in eighth whilst Germany’s Carolin Kauffmann and France’s Marine Griffaut finished in tied ninth.
Marit Harryvan from the Netherlands shot a round of 67(-4) to equal Kibsgaard Nielsen as the strongest round of the day.
LETAS now moves to Czechia for the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge at Panorama Golf Resort, the fifth event of the season.
Speaking about next week, Kibsgaard Nielsen said: “I will take a lot of confidence into the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge. I feel my game is in a good spot right now so I will just try to enjoy it and look forward to it.”
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