Italy’s Diana Luna shot a superb seven under par 65 on Sunday to secure her fourth Ladies European Tour title at the UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi.
The 28-year-old, originally from Rome, carded rounds of 67, 67, 65 and 65 for a 72-hole total of 24 under par 264 at Golfpark Gut Häusern in Munich.
She carded 24 birdies in all and no bogies for the entire tournament, earning a seven shot victory over Finland’s Minea Blomqvist, who finished with a 70.
Luna gave a masterful display of golf on the weather-interrupted final day. Starting out in blazing sunshine, she went to the turn in three under 33 following solid birdies at the third, fourth and seventh holes. The 2009 Solheim Cup player then picked up further birdies at the 11th and 13th before, at 2.38pm, the threat of lightning caused a one-and-a-half hour break.
After relaxing in the clubhouse with a Cornetto ice-cream, Luna stepped back out and birdied the 14th, going six clear of Blomqvist. She then holed a three-footer at the par-four 17th, which Blomqvist three-putted for bogey, to cruise eight shots ahead.
Blomqvist responded with a birdie at the par-five 18th, while Luna’s birdie putt fell short, but she sealed the title with a par before local player Martina Eberl and all of Luna’s fellow Italian players stormed onto the green and showered the victor in champagne.
Luna, whose last victory came at the 2009 SAS Masters in Norway before her first child, Elena, was born a year ago, said: “I am so happy, I mean, I have been playing great all week. I’m happy that I won with a good score and I’m very, very confident and feeling great.
“It was special, something that hasn’t happened since 2009. It’s been two years now and it’s so nice to be back there.”
Blomqvist, another young mother with a one-year-old child, shed tears of happiness after finishing in second. It was her first cut made since the 2010 Finnair Masters in August, where she tied for 18th.
The first round leader Becky Morgan of Wales finished with a 69 to take third place at 16 under, with the recent Turkish Airlines Ladies Open champion Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands (68), Germany’s Caroline Masson (69) and halfway leader Virginie Lagoutte-Clement of France (72) in a share of fourth a shot further back.
Germany’s Sandra Gal, Spain’s Tania Elosegui and Swedes Caroline Westrup and Louise Stahle tied for seventh place at 13 under par.
In addition to the title, Luna walked away with a brand new Audi A5 convertible and €52,500 first prize.
The fourth edition of the tournament attracted a record number of spectators, with 10,400 on the final day and more than 31,450 people attending over the week.
