Rachael Goodall Photo credit: Manuel Lopez
England’s Rachel Goodall maintained her lead at the Ribiera Sacra Partimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open to claim a two-shot victory over Italy’s Lucrezia Colombotto Rozzo. The duo, playing together in the final pairing, both posted –2 rounds of 68 allowing Goodall to hold on for a two-shot win on –11 for the tournament.
Following a breath-taking round of 61 – a LET Access Series record on Friday – Goodall made a nervy start to the final round with a bogey on the first. The edgy beginning didn’t last long however as the 28-year-old quickly found her form with birdies on the third and fifth to move under par for the day and reach the halfway point at –10 for the tournament.
Colombotto Rosso reached the turn even par for the day, falling further behind Goodall at the midway point. After a bogey at the second and then crucially at the fifth, where Goodall birdied, the Italian’s chances were looking slim. The young Italian did not give up and rallied at the end of the front nine with consecutive birdies at holes eight and nine to claw her way back into contention – three adrift of leader Goodall.
On the back nine, Colombotto Rosso exhibited more of the fine golf she’s played throughout the week with no dropped shots and birdies at eleven and fourteen seeing the 23-year-old home with a two-under 68, –9 for the tournament.
It was not to be for Colombotto Rosso as England’s Goodall held her form down the stretch, matching her playing partner’s final round of 68 to clinch a two-shot victory on –11 for the week.
The win at the Ribiera Sacra Partimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open is Goodall’s second LET Access Series win following success at the Turfman Allerum Open last year. The 28-year-old was understandably delighted to record a second victory in as many years on the tour:
“Really cool. I’m really pleased that I’m able to back up my win here – and it’s even more special because I was leading going into today, and I’ve never been leading going into the final day. “My putting (was the key). I played well last week but I didn’t hole anything. I worked really hard on it and made a couple of changes going into this week – and they worked!
The win was made even more special as the Englishwoman recorded a stunning nine-under round of 61 in the second round at Augus Santas – the lowest score in LET Access Series history:
“I lost count on the back nine – I had no idea I’d shot 61 but that was really special. I hit a lot of good shots and holed everything! I missed one short one but holed everything I had on the back nine.”
The LET Access Series remains in Spain this week with the Santander Golf Tour LETAS Valencia 2019 taking place July 17th – 19th at the Club de Golf Escorpion. The event will see the best from the LET Access Series in the field with players of the Santander Golf Tour playing for a prize fund of 35,000 Euros and crucial points in the Race to La Laurgue up for grabs.
