England’s MacLaren wins Australian Women’s Classic

England’s Meghan MacLaren, a good friend of Dubai, has staged a triumphant return to Australia with a thrilling one shot win in a gripping final round of the €240,000 Australian Women’s Classic at the Bonville Golf Resort, the seventh tournament on the 2022 Ladies’ European Tour (LET) International Schedule.

On a day when the weather gods played kindly after two days of rain, it wasn’t an easy ride for the overnight leader MacLaren.

Bogeys at the 4th and 6th saw her lead quickly evaporate, and with several players making their move, the tournament was ripe for the picking.

Sweden’s Maja Stark was the first, and she wasted no time stamping her authority on the event with a birdie on the first.

Leading groups

Three more birdies followed on the front nine, at the 5th, 7th and 9th, and as the leading groups turned for home, Stark had got it to eight under, and the lead was hers alone.

Sadly, for the Swede, her run came to a grinding halt with a cruel double bogey on the 13th. After being forced to chip out from the trees, she couldn’t save par, relinquishing the lead.

Back to back birdies on the next kept her in the hunt until the end, but when MacLaren grabbed a vital birdie on the 15th, the task was suddenly far more daunting.

MacLaren knew she was ready to taste success with the clutch birdie, and from there it was an exercise in composure for the new champion.

“I knew someone had got to eight under and I was on seven at that point. I made good birdies on 14 and 15 and I assumed the lead might be nine at that point,” MacLaren said. “I kind of knew it was in my hands.”

MacLaren, however, is the woman of the moment. Now a three-time LET winner on Australian soil, after her back to back wins in the 2018 and 2019 NSW Opens, today’s victory justifies her decision to return to her European playing roots after a couple of years of attempting to break onto the US LPGA Tour.

This victory earns MacLaren €36,000 and takes her to 3rd in the season long Race to Costs del Sol Order of Merit points list as well as 7th in the 2022 LET Money List with €47,869.29.

Eight over par

Dubai based Kristyna Napoleaova (Czech Republic), shot a final round 76 to go with her opening two rounds of 74, to finish eight over par in a tie for 58th.

JA The Resort Ambassador Amy Boulden (Wal), matched Kristyna’s opening two rounds and had a disappointing final round of 80 to finish in tied 70th.

Moroccan Maha Haddioui also finished tied 58th alongside Kristyna on eight over par, with a final round of 74.

Next week, Thursday 28th April – Sunday 1st May, 2022, the LET stays in Australia for the €210,000 Women’s NSW Open to be held at Coolangata & Tweed Heads Golf Club. Meghan, Kristyna, Amy and Maha will all be competing.