France’s Lauren Holmey overcame a four-shot deficit to score her second LET Access Series (LETAS) title at the Arkea Montauban Ladies Open.
Holmey shot a final round 68 (-4) for an overall score of 210 (-6) to pip Australia’s Kristalle Blum 211 (-5) by one stroke.
Holmey said: “I’m very happy. I’ve been a professional for almost four years now, and it’s just a long, long road. We work really hard to hopefully get a day like today so I’m just very happy with all the work we’ve put in up until now.
“I saw the French flag coming down with the guys that jumped from the plane, and it just felt incredible. I had a tear in my eye because I was getting emotional. Just very happy it’s a home win.
“I feel very, very lucky that my parents try their best to travel with me as much as they can. My dad was on the bag with me this week and my mom, she’s a physio. I don’t know what I would do without them. Having this support system… I owe them a lot.”
After three LETAS events, Holmey leads the Order of Merit on 729.00 points, ahead of Switzerland’s Caroline Sturdza (547.13) and Germany’s Hanna Tauber (500.00).
The quartet of France’s Anais Meyssonier (70) and Lucie Malchirand (74), Sweden’s Lovisa Gunnar (71) and Denmark’s Sarah Skovgaard Bils (74) finished a shot further back at 212 (-4).
Overnight leaders Genevieve Ling and Marine Griffaut both carded 76 to finish in a tie for eighth alongside Italy’s Emma Lundgren (69).
English amateur Amelia Wan shot a bogey-free 66, the best round of the week, to finish in solo seventh.
Starting the day at -2, Holmey’s surge came from holes five to nine, when she made five consecutive birdies; a first in the tournament’s seven-year history.
It was a lead she did not relinquish, despite dropping a shot at the par-5 12th.
After signing her scorecard, Holmey had to wait about an hour before her victory was confirmed when Skovgaard Bils hit her approach at No. 18 into the bunker and failed to hole out.
Holmey said: “I was trying not to talk to too many people, I went on the putting green a little bit, just in case there was a play-off. It was really, really tense up until the end.
“I was honestly excited if it came to a play-off. I was like, great, more golf to play! I know that I’ve played well, I’ve done everything I could. It was a very good fight from everyone, just very happy to have gotten the win in the end.”
Success did not come in a linear path for Holmey, who struggled with a bout of illness for 18 months after receiving her LET card in 2023 at the age of 20.
“The schedule was so hectic, and it was just a big jump from amateur golf, gaining my card so quick,” she said. “Playing professionally right away on the LET, my body just shut down in the middle of the season.
“I went to the doctor and they told me, yeah this is gonna take at least a year and I didn’t know how to process that. At the beginning of 2025, I could finally climb stairs and not feel like I’m dying on the third floor.
“I guess it shaped me as well because everything came so quickly. I’ve just had to really learn how to schedule the whole season, how to take care of my body, how to rest, how to eat better, how to sleep. I’m happy it’s behind me.”
Holmey, who lives in Paris, will hold off on the celebrations for now as she prepares for a six-hour drive back home.
She added: “Tomorrow, I think we’ll definitely have a good dinner. What I’ve learnt from the past few years is there is no small win. Everything has to be celebrated because we work so hard to get those moments.
“So I don’t want to just brush it aside, I really want to enjoy it and then focus on what’s next. I want to enjoy this win.”
Keep up with all the action on the LETAS on our socials – @LETAccess on Instagram and X and LET Access Series on Facebook.
