Scotland’s Heather Macrae lists her favourite golfer as Seve Ballesteros. The late Spaniard would be proud of the up-and-down Macrae conjured to win the play-off against order of merit leader Meghan MacLaren, of England.
Speaking after her round, Macrae attributed the win to improved putting on the final day. “Feels great to win. I’ve played so well all three days but couldn’t hole anything. There was a lot of confidence in my game so I never felt nervous.”
Starting the day six shots back at the Rinkven Golf Club in Gravenwezel, the Scottish professional fired a flawless five-under 66 to come from behind and win the €35,000 Belfius Ladies Open.
While Macrae climbed eight spots to make the play-off, overnight leader Silvia Banon of Spain put herself out of contention with a final round of 74, to finish two shots back in third place.
MacLaren had a chance to win outright with a par on the last hole but a late bogey after three birdies and fourteen carefully crafted pars saw her one-shot lead evaporate.
Only one extra hole was required to declare the winner, but not without some drama and fine play. Macrae hit her drive into a water hazard left of the 18th fairway. She then took a drop and hit her third shot to within three metres of the flag.
“Today my goal was to shoot 65. I couldn’t control what anyone else does, so I thought that it would give me a chance.”
In regulation, the Scot made a birdie on the 18th. During the play-off, she was glad to be there. “It was my first poor drive of the day. Dropping from the hazard, I had to play a low shot under a tree, and it was perfect.”
Meanwhile, MacLaren missed the green with her approach and failed to make her par and Macrae claimed her second LETAS victory. “Meghan is a great player, and will win again very soon I’m sure.”
Macrae’s last win came in 2013 at the Solvesborg Ladies Open, where she also came from behind to win in a play-off against another Englishwoman, Kym Larratt.
The LET Access Series now heads to Lugo, Spain for the Ribeira Sacra Patrimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open from the 12th – 14th July.
