Smilla Tarning Soenderby of Denmark shot a 10-under 62 and then defeated Lisa Pettersson and Anne Van Dam in a playoff to win the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
Soenderby posted the clubhouse lead at 16-under total and was later joined by Sweden’s Pettersson and Van Dam of the Netherlands who had held a three-shot lead going into the final round.
Further drama happened as on the way to the playoff hole Van Dam’s bag got caught under a gallery rope and fell off the buggy which led to her driver shaft snapping.
Despite that, the five-time LET winner still made the most of the playoff hole and just missed her eagle putt which would have forced another hole.
Pettersson also found the green in two shots but she was unable to make her eagle or birdie putts.
Eagle putt to win playoff
Soenderby meanwhile reached the green in two and sunk her eagle putt to secure her maiden title on the Ladies European Tour.
“I’m not quite sure what happened in the playoff! I hit a good drive,” said Soenderby. “It was a very long drive compared to the first round there.
“Then I had 178 and just wanted to hit a 5-iron to the middle of the green and missed it a bit left. It sounded like I almost holed it and then the putt went in. I didn’t think my score was enough when I got into the clubhouse, but it turned out to be enough.
“It is redemption, after the 18th last year I said I’m okay to not be in the playoff because I’m not sure I’m ready to be in that position and I’m ready for it now.
It means so much
“It means so much. I could see first that I had been in that position last year, so I knew how to handle those emotions and feelings on the 18th fairway, so I knew what to do and I did it. Well done to Lisa and to Anne as well.”
In the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol, France’s Celine Boutier still leads the way with 1,725.38 points with Spain’s Ana Peláez Trivino in second place with 1,487.20 points.
India’s Diksha Dagar moves up to third place and now has a total of 1,337.34 with fellow countrywoman Aditi Ashok in fourth and Sweden’s Linn Grant in fifth, while Soenderby jumps from 48th to 19th in the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol.
