In a tightly contested final day, Iceland’s Ragga Kristinsdottir came from behind to secure her first professional victory at the Vasteras Open by Moregolf Mastercard.
With this win, Kristinsdottir has made history by becoming the first Icelandic woman to win a professional golf tournament.
It was a strong start to the day for the 27-year-old who carded consecutive birdies on holes four and five before a double bogey on the seventh cost her the lead.
At the turn, Kristinsdottir kept her cool after carding two bogeys on holes 12 and 14 to roll in a birdie on the 16th which put her one shot clear and ultimately secured her the win.
Speaking about what it means to have her long-awaited victory after three seasons on LETAS, Kristinsdottir said: “It means a lot. Getting my first professional win is amazing. It’s huge and I know words can’t really describe what I’m feeling.
“Trying to sum it up, it would be just pure gladness. I am feeling all the emotions.”
Kristinsdottir now sits fourth on the LETAS Order of Merit with a total of 1,021.25 points after last week’s runner up finish and another top 10 earlier in May at the Super Bock Ladies Open.
“This win is a huge confidence boost. I was close last week and to get over the hurdle of winning is something to build on for the next few events.”
After hearing that she was the first woman from Iceland to win on a professional golf tour, Kristinsdottir was delighted but wanted to pay tribute to her predecessors.
“It’s a huge pride to be the first one. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the ones that came before me. Andrea this year on LETAS has played great golf and Gudrun on the LET.
“Further back we had Ólafía Þórunn Kristinsdóttir and Valdís Þóra Jónsdóttir who paved the way for me to be here.
“To be the one that gets the first win and cross the hurdle is a huge moment of pride for me.”
The 2022 British Amateur Stroke Play Medalist has played for three seasons on LETAS and has finished 86th and 83rd consecutively.
Kristinsdottir’s mother joined her on the bag this week and was there to witness the historic moment.
“She’s been with me ever since I started playing golf when I was six. She was with me when I won my first junior event and to have her there watching my first professional victory is a full circle moment.
“Tonight, I will celebrate with a huge, big fat steak with mum, and she will have a glass of red wine. We also might watch the football.”
Denmark’s Amalie Leth-Nissen finished runner up for the second time this season and now returns to the top of the LETAS Order of Merit with a 89.63-point lead.
Switzerland’s Elena Colombo and Sweden’s Isabel Ekstrom both tied for third on six-under-par with Colombo carding the lowest round of the day 68 (-4).
Mexico’s Fernanda Lira and Norway’s Madelene Stavnar both finished fifth, whilst France’s Charlotte Liautier and Swedish duo Corinne Viden and amateur Elsa Svensson all finished seventh to round out the top 10.
Liautier continues to rack up points on the LETAS Order of Merit and sits fifth with 887.33 points after six top 10 finishes.
LETAS now heads to sunny Huelva, Spain for the inaugural Islantilla Open held at Islantilla Golf Resort.
The tournament will see 126 players tee it up across 54 holes for the biggest prize fund the Tour has ever seen, €100,000.
Speaking about her excitement for the event, Kristinsdottir said: “Spain next week is going to be exciting. It’s an event that we have all circled on our calendars when the schedule came out so I’m looking forward to it.”
For more information on the tournament visit letaccess.com and follow @LETAccess on Facebook, Instagram and X – #Access2LET.
