Caroline Afonso of France has won two of the three LET Access Series events played this season, following her victory at the La Nivelle Ladies Open.
The 25-year-old from Anglet, in the Biarritz area, near to Golf de la Nivelle, won the Terre Blanche Ladies Open in late March, which was the first event on the LETAS. With her win at La Nivelle, she sealed her second professional title and with it, the Generali Ladies Tour’s Order of Merit.
Afonso started the final round three strokes clear of England’s Rachel Bell and shot a final round of 72. She finished at two under par for the three-round tournament and triumphed by one shot ahead of Marina Arruti from Spain, who had a 68. However it was a slightly nervous finish.
Afonso was five strokes clear of the field after two birdies at the third and fifth holes in the final round, but after making the turn in two under par, she dropped four shots coming home with a double bogey at the par four 11th and bogeys on holes 14 and 17.
She was delighted with her win and thanked the General Ladies Tour, the French Golf Federation and the LET Access Series for the events this year. She said it was a tough test of golf, with windy conditions over the first two days, however it was warm with a gentle breeze for the final round on Friday.
Afonso, who is coached by Phillipe Mendiburu from Biarritz, added that the victory would boost her confidence ahead of the next Ladies European Tour event, which is the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open, due to take place at Golf Gerre Losone in the Ascona region of Switzerland from 17-20 June. She is yet to win on the Ladies European Tour, in her third season as a professional.
Third place went to former LET player Maria Beautell of Spain, who had a 68, while future French star Lucie André was the best amateur in outright fourth place. Norwegian Caroline Martens Larsen was fifth, with Spain’s Ana Larraneta in sixth position, but first round co-leader Bell fell back into a share of seventh with French amateur Laura Chemarin after a 76.
Ninth place was shared by Australian Karen Lunn, Anne-Lise Caudal of France, Mariana Macias Capuzzi from Spain and England’s Kiran Matharu.
Maria Beautell received the invitation to the the Ladies Open of Portugal, due to be played from 25-27 June, as the player non-exempt in the top three places.
