Playing in her first event of the 2011 season, the 21-year-old from Bath enjoyed a fine start on Thursday, opening with a five-under-par 68. She extended her overnight advantage by posting a second round of one-under-par 72.
With four birdies and three bogeys on the card, she finished at six-under for the tournament, two ahead of the 2010 champion Caroline Afonso from France.
The pair was tied at eight-under after nine holes and then, after Afonso’s bogey on 12 was compensated with a birdie on hole-13, both players bogeyed the 16th to remain locked in a tie with three holes to play.
Afonso then double bogeyed the par-four 17th hole, giving Zuel a two stroke lead coming down the last. Both players bogeyed the par-five 18th but it was enough to hand Zuel the victory she has been awaiting since turning professional in March 2008.
Sophie Giquel, the 2007 Portugal Ladies Open champion from France tied for third with compatriot Joanna Klatten and Italy’s Margherita Rigon on three-under-par.
The next LETAS event is the La Nivelle Ladies Open, taking place at Golf de la Nivelle in Ciboure, France, from April 13-15 with a prize fund of €25,000.
