Czech Republic’s Patricie Mackova fired a phenomenal final round of 67 (-5) to clinch a three-stroke victory at the Lavaux Ladies Open.
The win has been some time coming for Mackova who has had a fantastic season on LETAS carding seven consecutive top 10 finishes up until August.
Speaking about what it means to win, Mackova said: “I didn’t see it coming at all especially after last week, but it feels amazing.”
Mackova had a steady start to final day with six pars in a row before dropping her first birdie on the par three seventh hole. However, a bogey on the ninth set her back.
At the turn something switched and Mackova fired seven birdies and one more bogey to clinch her first professional victory.
“I made a bogey on nine and I thought I was not winning it. I thought I had lost it but then that made me think I have nothing to lose now. I wanted to just enjoy the back nine.
“I made some good putts on 12,13 and 14. For the rest of it I was very nervous, but my mindset was really good.”
This win marks Mackova’s return to fine form. It’s been a testing month for the 24-year-old from Prague, who after the Ladies Slovak Golf Open slipped into seventh on the LETAS Order of Merit.
Yet during the next off-week, Mackova injured her wrist after colliding with a cyclist when running. This injury forced the 24-year-old from Prague to withdraw from the Women’s Irish Challenge and threatened her chance to earn an automatic spot to the LET.
Undeterred, Mackova has fought through the injury and even had her grandparents out here this week who drove over eight hours to support her.
“Their cheering got me going. It felt amazing to have them here and was special that they saw me win.
“This win proved to me that I should be on the rankings. I have played some LET events this season and they didn’t go my way, but this proves now that I belong there.”
With this win, Mackova follows in the footsteps of her idol and friend Sara Kouskova who clinched the trophy in 2022. The same year she won both the LETAS Order of Merit and Rookie of the year trophies.
“We were in touch every single day. I texted her for tips and tricks and she gave me some. That felt very nice.
“She is two years older than me and has always been my role model. So we are in touch, and I can’t wait to compete next to her on the LET.”
Australia’s Justice Bosio finished solo second on eight-under-par. This was Bosio’s last event, and she fought till the end to secure the win which would mean a last chance to reach the top seven to earn an LET card.
However, Bosio sees out a fantastic rookie year in eighth position on the Order of Merit rankings. The Australian recorded six top 10s including three runner up finishes.
England’s Charlotte Heath finished the tournament tied third with Switzerland’s Anais Maggetti on seven-under-par. The latter wins the best Swiss award.
Heath now sits seventh on the LETAS Order of Merit with 1,372.33 points.
Two Austrian’s finished fifth on six-under-par alongside Germany’s Sophie Witt and Swiss amateur Yana Beeli.
LETAS now has three weeks off before we head to Spain for the season finale, the Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open.
The event will see 108 players tee it up across 54 holes for a €45,000 prize fund
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