Skarpnord edges Reid in thriller

Marianne Skarpnord claimed her first LET victory at the Deutsche Bank Swiss Open – but not before a dramatic, last gasp finish.
Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord claimed her first LET victory at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open at Golf Gerre Losone on Sunday – but not before a dramatic, last gasp finish.
The 23-year-old, in her 5th season on the Ladies European Tour, had started the day a shot clear of Melissa Reid, one of England’s brightest young prospects, and spent the rest of it swapping places in a see-saw final round that finally came down to the final put on the last.
Reid needed two putts at least to force a play-off, but three-putted and Skarpnord’s closing three putts for 70 and a 16-under total were just enough to enable her to take away the spoils and leave Reid in second place, also having posted a 70, and Australia’s Karen Lunn (69) in third place after chipping in for a dramatic eagle with her final shot of the day.
And so while Reid was ruing those three putts at the last and the fact that it forced her to settle for her fourth runner-up spot in two seasons, Skarpnord celebrated her win – and Norway’s national day – with a group of friends who stormed the 18th green and sprayed her with champagne.
“To get a win this early in the season is just great – and now I can also play at Evian,” she said.
“Melissa and I both played well. We were either even, one shot up, or one shot down throughout the entire round. She just missed a few putts around 13, 14, or something and I made a birdie on 16. That brought me back. but it was hard work at the end, three putting there. The first putt I didn’t think was so fast but luckily it didn’t matter that I didn’t have to sink the second. I just had to put it close.”
With season’s earnings of €88,414.68, Skarpnord now leads the LET’s official 2009 Henderson Money List and earned 30 Solheim Cup points, taking her to eighth position on the European standings.
The Ladies European Tour now moves to Munich for the HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open, presented by Audi at Golfpark Gut Hausern.
Courtesy of the sponsor, Skarpnord was one of the lucky players to be whisked straight to Germany in an Audi Q7.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2008: Ryder Cup misery in Louisville for Nick Faldo’s Europe
Faldo was heavily criticised for his tactics in the closing singles.
-
Lucas Glover edges past Patrick Cantlay to claim back-to-back Tour wins
Glover, 43, ultimately claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole playoff after Cantlay found water off the tee.
-
Lilia Vu wins second major as Charley Hull comes up short despite stunning eagle
American Vu added the Women’s Open title to her Chevron Championship.
-
Lucas Glover holds onto lead in Memphis with Tommy Fleetwood two strokes behind
Glover said it was a scrappy day but he got ‘a lot out of’ what he had.
-
Charley Hull shares lead with Lilia Vu heading into final day of Women’s Open
The pair are nine under for the tournament.
-
On This Day in 2007 – Tiger Woods claims 13th major with victory in Oklahoma
The world number one successfully defended his US PGA Championship title.
-
Ally Ewing out to emulate Brian Harman with Open win
The pair share their southern roots, passion for hunting and college teams named the Bulldogs.
-
Ally Ewing storms clear during second round of AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath
At 10 under par Ewing enjoyed a five-shot lead over compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan’s Minami Katsu.
-
Jordan Spieth leads by one after first round of FedEx St Jude Championship
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are the best of the British contingent, closing out Thursday on four under par.
-
Rory McIlroy delighted with Tiger Woods’ role on PGA Tour’s policy board
Woods, 47, has not played since withdrawing from April’s Masters and concedes his playing opportunities will be extremely limited going forward.