Natalia Escuriola
Spain’s Natalia Escuriola won for the first time on the LET Access Series, taking home the CitizenGuard LETAS Trophy at Rinkven Golf Club, near Antwerp in Belgium on Saturday.
Escuriola shot a closing round of 68 for a three round total of 11 under par and a three shot victory over Germany’s Olivia Cowan.
The Spanish amateur, currently ranked 36th on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, pulled away from Cowan with birdies on the 12th and 16th holes and an eagle on the 14th, holing a 25 metre pitch shot.
“I played really well on the back nine. I made two birdies and an eagle, holing a shot.”
“I felt nervous coming down the 18th, I will be playing all the LETAS events, I want to be on the LET next year.”
Escuriola was aware that her good friend, fellow Spanish amateur Luna Sobron was also chasing for the title. Sobron held a one shot lead after 12 holes but bogeyed the 13th to fall a shot behind Escuriola. The 20-year-old parred the remaining 5 holes to finish in third place at 8 under par.
Cowan made a late charge with birdies on the 17th and 18th to finish at 9 under par and claim the winner’s cheque for €4,834. The 19-year-old maintained her 2nd place on the LETAS order of merit with fellow countrywoman Isi Gabsa (71) consolidating her position at the top, with a fourth place finish at 7 under par.
Malaysia’s Ainil Bakar shot a closing round of 69, to finish at 5 under par, 211 to fifth place on her own.
The LET Access now moves to Germany for the CreditGate24 GolfSeries Hamburg Open, which takes place at Treudelberg GC from the 30 July – 1 August.
