French amateur Agathe Laisne pulled off a sensational seven-shot final round comeback to capture the biggest win of her career at the 2020 Lavaux Ladies Open in Switzerland.
Playing in her first LETAS event, the 21-year-old French amateur closed her final round of 68 (-4) with a vital birdie on the 54th hole to set the clubhouse lead at nine-under-par.
As it happened, no one was able to pass the mark, and Laisne found herself locked together in first place with French compatriot Agathe Sauzon and overnight leader Pia Babnik, with extra holes required to separate the trio.
Heading back down the par four 18th hole, all three players made par at the first time of asking before Laisne rose to the occasion on her second visit down the tricky closing hole.
“I made a crucial birdie in regulation with a driver and an 8 iron and I hit exactly the same club in the playoff to a similar area of the green on the right hand side so I knew what the putt was going to do and luckily I manged to put a good stroke on it.”
Holing from approximately 4.5meters for birdie, the plus four handicapper watched as her rivals settled for par and confirmed she would be crowned the 2020 Lavaux Ladies Open Champion.
Speaking about the achievement Laisne said, “It is really cool, I really enjoyed the moment and can’t believe I have won a professional event. I can’t wait to ring my Mum and then my coach to tell them the news.”
She continued, “I played last week in my first LET event at the Lacoste Open De France and missed the cut by one shot and I learnt a lot from that experience and I am feeling more and more comfortable playing against professionals and this week will give me so much more confidence.”
Starting the day seven-shots adrift of overnight leader Pia Babnik, the University of Texas Senior, looked nowhere near contention after an opening nine of 37 (+1), however, as the leaders faltered, her confidence grew – making four consecutive birdies from the turn and a closing three at the 18th to come back in 31 shots and set up the sudden-death playoff.
Paired with three-time LETAS winner Sanna Nuutinen, Laisne commented, “It was such a good experience to play with someone as experienced as Sanna and knowing that I was putting the ball in similar places to her gives me confidence that I can turn professional one day.”
Confirming she would head back to Texas to complete her studies in January, next up for the talented amateur is the European Amateur Championship in Slovenia next week but beyond that, it is clear that the future is bright for Agathe.
