ISABELLE BOINEAU WINS THE LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN
March 30, 2017
Isabelle Boineau held her nerve at Dundonald Links to win her maiden Ladies European Tour title at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open on a day where the lead changed three times.
A closing four under par 68 got the Frenchwoman to 11 under and handed her a one-shot victory over Linda Wessberg, with Beth Allen and overnight leader Becky Morgan a shot further back.
Caroline Hedwall, Gwladys Nocera and Isabella Ramsay all earned themselves a place in next week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn by virtue of their finishes – being the top 3 players not otherwise exempt.
Boineau, who won the Duke of York Young Champions event at Dundonald Link as a teenage amateur back in 2007 was elated with the win, which will give her a boost of confidence heading into playing the Women’s British Open next week.
“What a tournament to win: the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open” said the 27-year-old. “Today is one of the best days of my life.”
“I was very nervous on the last. I was shaking but I didn’t want people to see,” said Boineau, a third year Ladies European Tour professional. “Hitting my rescue, I was so nervous, because I had memories from when I played in 2007 when I think I was in the lead as well. I pushed it because I got scared of the water and finished second, so I thought, ‘Don’t do the same.’ I had my friend, Alexis, on the bag, which helped, because when you’re nervous time can go so fast. The putt was still difficult but when Linda missed hers I felt some relief. I thought, at worst I’ll be in a playoff.”
“One of the best days of my life!” Isabelle Boineau
It was all change early on day three. Wales’ Becky Morgan started with a three stroke lead but there was a two shot swing on the first after Boineau almost holed her approach shot for eagle. Wessberg then birdied the second and third before moving two ahead with a massive eagle putt on the fifth hole. Boineau birdied the fifth and then the 12th but dropped a shot at the 13th before Wessberg made a clutch par putt on 16 to stay one ahead.
Boineau then holed from 10 feet on 17 to take the lead for the first time before Wessberg three putted.
“I played well all day, started off really well, but then didn’t really make any birdies and had a hard time hitting the fairway. The first cut is quite difficult when you’re trying to attack the pins. I misjudged my putt on 17 going up the hill and thought it was going to be slower with the rain,” said Wessberg, who finished second.
Allen needed a birdie on the last to tie for the lead but dropped a shot for a final round of 67.
“The third shot was the shot I was trying to play. It was a really hard pin when you’re coming in with a long iron, like I had to. I hit 6-iron as well as I could and it didn’t go forward. I hit a chip shot which I thought was a safe one and I didn’t even hit that bad of a putt. I just got unlucky.”
Earlier, Caroline Hedwall completed a course record final round of 64 and she ended in fifth place to claim her Ricoh Women’s British Open spot.
The best placed Scot, was Vikki Laing who fired a closing round of 67 to finish on four under for the tournament and in 11th place overall.
To view the final standings click here.