Nicole Broch Larsen
Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen (-3) won the HLR Golf Academy Open at Hillside Golf Club in Finland, after a one-hole play-off against Spain’s Patricia Sanz Barrio and Fabienne In-Albon from Switzerland.
Broch Larsen, playing in her first event as a professional, set the clubhouse lead at 3 under par, with a bogey free round of 68, scoring a two putt birdie on the par five 6th hole and a one putt eagle from six metres, on the par five 13th hole.
Sanz took the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th to move to 5 under par but back to back bogeys on the 16th and 17th proved costly and the 22-year-old dropped back to three under par. In-Albon, who started the final round at 2 under par, scored a late birdie on the 17th to also finish at 3 under par.
The three players headed to the 18th hole for the sudden death play-off, with Broch Larsen the only player to hit the tough par four in regulation. In-Albon, finding the greenside bunker, failed to get up and down for her par, with Sanz Barrio also failing to make par from just short of the green. Broch Larsen left her approach putt six feet short but then holed out for her first victory.
Sweden’s Elin Anderson (-2) shot an impressive final round of 64, which moved her up into fourth place, with Denmark’s Daisy Nielsen (-1), also playing in her first event as a professional, finishing in fifth position.
Sanz Barrio’s 2nd place finish took her to the top of the LETAS Order of Merit whilst Broch Larsen’s win moved her up to 5th place.
The LET Access Series moves on to the Norrporten Ladies Open, which takes place at Sundsvalls GC in Sweden from the 30 Aug – 1 Sept.
