Tereza Zapletal Kozeluhova, 25, ended her five-year wait for her first professional title after clinching the Women’s English Open on the LET Access Series (LETAS) at Manchester Golf Club.
The Czech golfer, who turned pro in 2021, shot a final round 69 to finish on 12-under overall and one stroke ahead of United Arab Emirates’ Hyeonji Kang who shot a bogey-free 68.
Overnight leaders Ragga Kristinsdottir and Thalia Martin (both 73) finished on nine-under for the tournament in a tie for third with England’s Jessica Hall (66), United States’ Katherine Schuster (68) and Austria’s Isabella Holpfer (70).
Walking off the 18th green after missing a two-footer for par, Kozeluhova thought she was headed for a play-off until her friends came charging over to douse her with water in celebration.
“I still can’t believe it,” Kozeluhova said while tearing up. “I’m soaking it all up because it’s just an amazing feeling. I never thought that I could do it, but now I know I can.
“I thought I had to make (the par putt) because I didn’t see the scoreboard. I didn’t make it. I was a little bit sad because I thought that was the moment. And then the girls came to me so I’m really happy.”
Starting the day in the penultimate two-ball, Kozeluhova got off to a hot start after birdieing the second hole.
She took the solo lead on the par-5 third after hitting her approach inside 10 feet and making eagle to pull clear by two strokes. It was a lead she never relinquished after adding birdies on holes six and nine.
The Plzen-born golfer made the turn with a five-shot advantage, and despite bogeys on holes 10 and 13 she bounced back with her second eagle of the day on the par-5 14th.
“It was really tough for me today,” she said. “The first nine I played really good, then I made two mistakes. Then on 14 I made a chip-in eagle, it was such a nice moment for me.
“I was just trying to stay concentrated and calm, but I made one more bogey (on hole 16) and on the last green I had that one-metre putt I missed.”
After five years as a professional without a win, Kozeluhova headed into the 2026 LETAS season thinking it would be her last one.
She considered quitting the sport after graduating from college, but her father pushed her to continue competing.
“After I finished my school, I thought I’m gonna finish with golf and focus on something else,” she said. “But my dad still pushed me into golf and to keep going and trying.
“I feel like this season was for me maybe the last one because it’s just five years, no win, so I was like well, let’s give it one last try for this season,” she said.
“I’m just really happy that I made it that I can see that I can do it. It’s really emotional for me because I’m here also with my dad who supports me all the time. I’m really happy that it happened with him.
“I could say maybe I won it for him because I think that he’s more happy than I am. He really wants for me to do my best in sport, in golf.”
Kozeluhova, whose win meant she missed her flight back home to Czechia from Manchester, will celebrate with her husband when she gets home on Saturday.
“We’re gonna book another flight, but I don’t really care,” she said. “Tomorrow, I’m gonna definitely celebrate it with my husband. He is waiting for me at home, so with him and then with my family the day after.”
Further down the leaderboard, Australia’s Hannah Reeves (71) came in solo eighth at eight-under overall, while the duo of Japan’s Hazuki Kimura (68) and Welsh amateur Gracie Mayo (70) finished another shot behind in tied-ninth.
Malaysia’s Genevieve Ling (71) finished in solo 11th place at six-under for the tournament, while the quartet of United States’ Antonia Malate (69), Cambodia’s Harmonie Yin (70), Iceland’s Andrea Bergsdottir (71) and Italy’s Maria Vittoria Corbi (73) finished on five-under in a tie for 12th.
Kozeluhova’s win has pushed her up to ninth in the LETAS Order of Merit standings. France’s Lauren Holmey still sits in top spot despite missing the cut by one stroke this week.
The LETAS season resumes in two weeks at the July 23-25 Pitch 15 Open at Hanbury Manor, England.
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