Jana Melichova shot a final-round 67 to stage an impressive comeback and achieve a second Ladies European Tour win at the Dutch Ladies Open.
The 26-year-old Czech, who previously won the 2022 Tipsport Czech Ladies Open as an amateur, started the final day at Hilversumsche Golf Club six strokes behind leader Kim Metraux. However, by the halfway point, she had narrowed the gap to just two shots.
Melichova momentum continued with further birdies as Metraux continued to slip up including going out of bounds on the 12. Metraux found herself back on track but it was too little too late as Melichova did not let her lead slip to seal a one-shot victory and her collect her second LET title and the €45,000 winning prize.
“I feel absolutely amazing, I don’t even know what to say! It was just perfect,” said Melichova.
“It means so much. Especially, I have been struggling so much this year.
“I have just not been making cuts, I have not had good results and been struggling overall mentally. This is a major thing and it’s going to give me some major confidence.
“I was a bit aggressive with my first putt on 18, it was all the adrenaline and everything. I hit it a little bit too hard and then left myself a metre downhill putt which is never nice.
“I felt the same thing I felt when I had a metre putt in 2022 when I won in Beroun. I had the same feeling where I knew I was going to make it. It’s such a weird feeling, but I just knew it.”
She also went onto dedicate her win to her late mother who passed away in 2022.
“When she passed away, I swore to myself that I was going to win a title for her, and I really wanted to do that for her,” she explained. “Her birthday being this week, it just made it all so special and I think that’s what motivated the most this week.”
Overnight leader, Metraux hit a final round 74 to end the tournament in second on 10 under while there was a tie for third between Thailand’s April Angurasaranee and England’s Liz Young both on 8 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the Ladies European Tour, following the Paris Olympic games, is the Women’s Scottish Open taking place between 15th and 18th August at Dundonald Links in Scotland.