Wahlin wins Welsh playoff

8/17/2008

Sweden’s Lotta Wahlin won the S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe, defeating Germany’s Martina Eberl at the second extra hole of a sudden death playoff.

The 24-year-old birdied the par-five 18th hole twice in the playoff at Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club in Llanelli, South Wales. Eberl, who led after the first and second rounds, birdied the first extra hole but bogeyed the second after her ball twice found the sand near the green.

Wahlin, who won her first official Ladies European Tour title at the Turkish Ladies Open three months ago, had a chance to win the tournament at the 18th green in regulation, but missed a three-footer for par and dropped a shot falling back into a tie with Eberl.

The Swede began the final round in fifth place, two shots behind the overnight leader Eberl. She carded an eagle and three bogeys on the front nine for an outward total of one-over 37 and was three behind Eberl at the turn.

The English pair of Henrietta Zuel and Georgina Simpson shared third position on six-under-par, while Sweden’s Maria Boden and last year’s champion Australian Joanne Mills tied for fifth on five-under.

Becky Brewerton was the leading Welsh player, finishing in a share of 11th place on three-under-par. But last year’s English Open champion failed to mount a challenge on the final day, dropping too many shots on both the front and back nine.

Brewerton will follow the LET circuit to the SAS Masters in Norway next week, before returning to LPGA Qualifying School in America in a month’s time.

Leaderbord – Final (54 holes):

1.  Lotta Wahlin                   SWE  71 67 71 209 - 7
2.  Martina Eberl                   GER  65 71 73 209 - 7
3.  Georgina Simpson           ENG  66 74 70 210 - 6
     Henrietta Zuel                 ENG  66 71 73 210 - 6
5.  Maria Boden                   SWE  71 71 69 211 - 5
     Joane Mills                     AUS  70 70 71 211 - 5
7.  Samantha Head              ENG  74 71 67 212 - 4
     Veronica Zorzi                 ITA  72 70 70 212 - 4
     Ashleigh Simon               SAF  70 71 71 212 - 4
     Paula Marti                     ESP  68 71 73 212 - 4

54. Zuzana Kamasová          SVK  75 70 75 220 +4

Source: Ladies European Tour