Lily May Humphreys wins first LET title in Joburg

England’s Lily May Humphreys fired a fantastic final round of 67 (-6) to secure a two-shot victory at the Joburg Ladies Open.

The 20-year-old began the day six shots behind overnight leader Moa Folke and got off to a good start with two birdies in her first two holes before her only dropped shot of the day on the third.

Humphreys then got on a roll with birdies on five, eight, 13 and 14 which put her into a share of the lead.

The 2021 LET Access Series Order of Merit winner then rolled in a birdie on 16 to reach a total of 12-under-par which proved to be enough to win her first LET title.

“I’m pretty speechless,” said Humphreys. “I felt so nervous playing 18 and I just can’t believe I’ve done it. It’s an incredible feeling and I’m so overwhelmed right now.

“Today was simple golf, I stuck to the same game plan. I wasn’t as aggressive as other people on a few holes, it was what I felt comfortable with and what I felt was best for me and it obviously paid off for me this week. I stuck to my game plan and tried to play my best golf.

“To be where I am now is incredible”

“On 15 was when I noticed, and I had a five-foot putt for par and I had just seen that I was tied for the lead. Luckily, I holed that and then followed up with a birdie on 16 and then I didn’t know I had a two-shot lead until I was basically putting on 18. The nerves properly kicked in then.

“I love it here in South Africa, I have been enjoying it. I have loved playing the Sunshine Ladies Tour. I’m in better form now and feel confident and I was happy that I was in the final few groups and I started off nicely, I just wanted to be near contention at the start of the day. To be where I am now is incredible.

“I’m really excited about the rest of the season, I’m really looking forward to what’s to come!”

Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino and Sweden’s Moa Folke finished in a share of second place on 10-under-par.

LET winner Pelaez Trivino had a solid final day carding a 69 (-4) which included seven birdies and three bogeys.

The Spaniard explained: “It was a good day with some frustrating moments, but I was pleased I could end the round with back-to-back birdies to have my best result of the season so far.”

Sweden’s Folke didn’t have the day she wanted producing a two-over-par fourth round, but this is her best-ever result on the LET.

“I struggled out there,” said the 27-year-old. “It wasn’t my best day, but at the end of the day I’m happy with second place and I get to try again next week. I’ll bring some positives from this week as there was definitely quite a few.

“I feel like three out of the four days here, I haven’t my played my best. To still be second considering that, I think that’s great and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Three players finished in a share of fourth place with South Africa’s Kiera Floyd, Czechia’s Klara Davidson Spilkova and Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup on nine-under-par.

South Africa’s Nadia van der Westhuizen ended the tournament with a round of 68 (-5) to finish in outright seventh place.

Three players rounded out the top 10 with Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley and South African pair Lee-Anne Pace and Nicole Garcia on seven-under-par.

In the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol, India’s Aditi Ashok still leads the way on 1,210 points with Sweden’s Maja Stark and England’s Humphreys in second place on 500 points.

Spain’s Pelaez Trivino moves up to fourth place with 434 points, Belgium’s Manon De Roey is fifth with England’s Alice Hewson in sixth.

Sweden’s Linn Grant sits seventh with 320 points, Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela is eighth, while Folke moves up to ninth place with 275 points.