Nilsson Wins in Play-Off

                                                     Emma Nilsson                     Photo: Maria Beautell

Sweden’s Emma Nilsson shot a closing round of 70, for a three round total of 206, to claim the Pilsen Golf Challenge in a two-hole play-off against France’s Melodie Bourdy.

Bourdy shot a 4 under par 67 to come through the field and put herself in a position to claim her first title on the LET Access Series.

Nilsson needed a birdie in the final three holes to draw level with the Frenchwoman and she delivered with a crucial putt on the par four 16^th hole, to force a play-off.

On the first extra hole, both players showed signs of nerves, Bourdy coming up short of the par four 18^th green with her approach shot and chipping well past the hole. The Frenchwoman then failed to hole her 15 foot putt for par, which sat agonisingly on the edge of the hole. Nilsson just caught the right edge of the green with her approach but proceeded to three putt, missing from four feet for her par.

Nilsson and Bourdy returned to the 18^th tee where Bourdy came up short of the green on the par four for the second time and failed to chip and putt for par. Nilsson found the green in regulation, leaving herself a putt for birdie from 20 feet. The Swede made no mistake, lagging her putt to leave an 18 inch putt for her par to take the title. She said: “It was really good, a lot of fun. I felt a little sick this morning, which I think helped me, as I only focused on one shot at a time.”

Nilsson was delighted with her first LETAS win, which also earned her a place in the upcoming LET Sberbank Golf Masters, played on the same golf course, from the 25th – 27th July.

Three players tied for third place at 6 under par, Switzerland’s Caroline Rominger, Swaziland’s Nobuhle Dlamini and Lina Boqvist from Sweden.

Top amateur honours went to Karolina Vlckova and Adele Cejnarova, who finished in a tie for 6^th place, alongside Swede Anjelika Hammar, at 5 under, 208.

The LET Access Series moves to Belgium next week for the Royal Belgian Golf Federation LETAS Trophy, which will be played at Rinkven Golf & Country Club, from the 17^th – 19^th July.