The Ladies European Tour’s leading Rookie, Julia Engstrom from Sweden, claimed the Viaplay Ladies Finnish Open title in a two-hole play-off at Messila Golf, near Lahti, in Finland on Saturday.
The talented young player turned professional at the beginning of this year after enjoying a very distinguished amateur career. Engstrom, who aged 15 became the youngest player to win the Ladies British Amateur Championship, was playing in just her seventh LETAS event.
Starting the final round in a tie for 5th place, the 17-year-old recorded five birdies and four bogeys, the last coming on the 18th hole. Engstrom may have thought this would be the costliest of bogeys but her final round of 71, one under, put her in a tie with Malaysia’s Ainil Bakar (69), fellow Swede Emma Nilsson (73) and Finns Sanna Nuutinen (72) and Ursula Wikstrom (74).
The five players headed down the 18th hole, all recording pars on the first play-off hole. It was Engstrom who produced a birdie on the second play-off hole to claim the title and her first win on the LET Access Series, which moves her up to 10th on the LETAS order of merit.
England’s Hayley Davis (72) finished in sixth place on her own with a three-round total of one under par, 215. Spain’s Noemi Jimenez (74) and Laura Fuenfstueck (75) tied for seventh place at even par.
