(CASTELLON, SPAIN – Sunday 19th July 2009) – Becky Brewerton recorded a stunning six stroke victory at the Open de España Femenino on Sunday.
The 26-year-old from Abergele shot a final round of 70 for a four round total of 270, 18-under-par, at Panorámica Golf & Country Club in Castellón.
She finished six clear of fellow Welshwoman Breanne Loucks, Italian Diana Luna and Spaniards Tania Elosegui and Emma Cabrera-Bello.
It was Brewerton’s second Ladies European Tour title following the 2007 Ladies English Open and she earned a first prize of €41,250 as well as a place in next week’s lucrative Evian Masters tournament in France.
Brewerton shared the first round lead after opening with a 65 but added rounds of 69 and 66 to be five strokes clear of the field entering the final round.
She was six strokes ahead of playing partner Elosegui after four birdies in her first nine holes but stumbled to a double bogey at the par-three 12th, when she hit her tee shot into the water short of the green. A bogey at the 15th was countered by a closing birdie at the last hole.
Brewerton reacts to a missed putt on the 14th hole |
“I’m so, so happy. To have such a big lead at the start was nice because it was a little bit nervy at the end when the wind was gusting up. It was a brilliant week,” Brewerton said.
“I played the front nine just superbly. I made good pars on 10 and 11 and then on 12 it was a shot out of nowhere; I absolutely duffed it straight into the water. I don’t know if it came from being a little bit tight or a little bit tentative with the club. I got on with it anyway, made five and didn’t lose my head.”
At the start of the week, Brewerton declared her hopes of making Europe’s Solheim Cup team, due to play at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois from 17-23 August.
“I said in my interviews after the first couple of rounds that it was an absolute must that I had to win here to get some Solheim points, to get into the Evian, to give myself a better chance of making that team and it paid off. I tried to stay like that all the way to the end. Even when I was a bit nervy I was really positive with my putts and that was the thing that got me my win,” she added.
“I’ve got the opportunity to play in Evian next week as well now and I feel like I can have a good couple of weeks. Top 20 you get points so I’ll certainly be trying to do better than that. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to get some more.”
Rookie Breanne Louckes also represented Wales well |
First year tour player Loucks shot up the leader board after a final round of 66, with seven birdies and one bogey. The Wrexham 21-year-old said: “I’m pretty made up to be honest. I’m so excited; I started crying on the 18th after making my birdie putt. It just means so much to me. To do so well in my rookie year: it’s amazing. I’m over the moon and proud of myself as well.”