Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord has finished at eight under par to win the Pacific Bay Resort Australian Ladies Classic by two shots.
A 3-under 69 was enough to take the Norwegian born golfer past overnight leader Madelene Sagstrom with Australia’s Hannah Green sharing second alongside Spain’s Nuria Iturrios at 6-under.
Skarpnord, who launched herself into calculations with a front nine 30 yesterday, made an early stumble with a bogey at the opening hole but went to the turn 1-under after recovering with back to back birdies at the 7th and 8th.
As many as six players shared the lead at one point during the day as the tricky breezes continued to make scoring difficult at the Bonville layout.
Sydney amateur Doey Choi was among those to have a share of the lead through much of the day, but a double bogey at the par-5 14th derailed her chances.
She ultimately signed for an even-par 72 and at 4-under for the week shared fourth place alongside Sweden’s Daniela Holmqvist.
A pair of Swedes, Jenny Haglund and Madelene Sagstrom, were a shot further back sharing sixth.
Sagstrom, among the better-credentialed players in the field and as overnight leader favourite with most to lift the trophy, said she couldn’t get any momentum in the final round after a disastrous double bogey at the third hole.
“I made some big, bad decisions that I couldn’t recover from,” she said of her 3-over 75.
“I was a little greedy at some points and too defensive in others. You learn a lot when you’re in this position so….”
She said the momentum began to turn at the third where a poor lie led to two chips to get to the green.
“I had a bad lie on three, the par 3, but I mean mistakes happen so I knew I could get away with one double, she said.
“I was a little bit frustrated going into the back then I eagles 10 and thought maybe things were turning.
“But the double on 12 got me, and there was no way back.”
Hannah Green, desperately hunting a maiden professional win on Australian soil, was bitterly disappointed with a day where she was far from her best.
“Frustrating,” she said. “Very disappointed with how I hit the ball the first nine after a really good tee shot on the first.
“I had three or four shots that were very bad contact, and they were costly. But I can’t complain about the result and this yea4r I had a genuine chance to win so hopefully my time will come.”