Mexico’s Fernanda Lira is on a phenomenal run after securing her second win of the season at the Q-Tour Himmerland Championship, just two weeks after the first.
A 15-foot birdie on the 17th in regulation play forced her into a playoff alongside home favourite Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen.
During the playoff Kibsgaard Nielsen found trouble off the tee which put her under pressure. Lira stayed cool, calm and collected to roll in her par putt after chipping past the flagstick.
Speaking about what it means, Lira said: “It was an exciting day. It was one of those days where I was not getting it how I wanted to. At Islantilla I had rhythm, today was more tough. So, I am just so happy I pulled it off.”
Lira seems to be on a roll currently. Her win at the Islantilla Open came off the back of winning the AIG Women’s Pre-Qualifying on Monday 14 at Delamere Forest by four strokes.
“There was a lot of adrenaline on the play off. Ryan ept telling me keep calm.”
Part of Lira’s key to success in the last three weeks has been having her husband Ryan Shuttleworth on the bag.
“I’ve convinced Ryan that it is him helping me to play well. So now he’s coming to Sweden with me.
“We are driving to Copenhagen tonight and them maybe we will go to dinner. We will find a way to celebrate.”
Lira has played between the LET and LETAS this season. Her plan now is to focus on LETAS for the next string of events.
“It’s too early to tell but right now my focus is to come and play LETAS, win as many points and get my card for next year.”
Lira becomes the first player to win more than once this season.
2023 LETAS Order of Merit winner Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen finished second. Whilst she didn’t secure the win, she won the hearts of the crowd.
Fellow 2024 LETAS Order of Merit victor Kajsa Arwefjall had a great final round of 68 (-4) to finish solo third on six-under-par.
One shot back fell England’s Ellen Hume and Slovakia’s Michaela Vavrova in tied fourth.
Rounding out the top 10 were four players: England’s Gemma Clews, Czechia’s Patricie Mackova, France’s Charlotte Liautier and Danish amateur Marie Madsen.
Lira now moves into fourth spot on the LETAS Order of Merit on 1,221.50 points whilst the top three remain the same.
LETAS now moves to neighbouring Sweden for the final co-sanctioned event with the Ahlsell Nordic Golf Tour.
The Ahlsell Trophy by Destination Jonkoping takes place 6-8 August at Granna Golfklubb.
For more information on the LET Access Series, visit letaccess.com and follow @LETAccess on Facebook, Instagram and X – #Access2LET.
