Germany’s Laura Fünfstück held her nerve to secure a one-shot victory at PIF London Championship and claim a maiden Ladies European Tour title.
The 30-year-old held the overnight lead of three shots coming into the sunny final day at Hertfordshire’s Centurion Club. But a rocky start for the German left her without the advantage after she followed up a double bogey at the 3rd with a bogey at the fourth. By the turn, she was three-over but Fünfstück kept her cool and remained undeterred as she redeemed her game with a flawless back nine display. Birdies at the 12th and 14th put her back into contention and another superb pair to finish in style on the final two holes secured her the victory with a final-round 72 and an overall 10 under score.
“At the beginning of the day, I said I want to earn this today and I did on the back nine,” said Fünfstück afterwards. “I was so nervous, I had half a sausage for breakfast. I’m starving now. I’m so happy, I’m so pleased. That was fun.
“Hopefully, we’re just getting started. It’s massively kind of validating because everyone defines themselves if they’re a Tour winner or not. There are parts of me that I really backed myself and I can compete in a sense, but I wouldn’t go into tournaments backing myself to win.
“I know that I can be competitive enough to put myself in contention, so now getting it over the line having been close before, is me knowing I can do it and hopefully, I can back myself a bit more in the future.”
Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea had been close at Fünfstück’s heels and settled for solo second on 9 under after a final-round 68. With just two bogeys and seven birdies throughout the Sunday, the LET rookie recorded her best finish yet. A shot further adrift on 8 under, The Netherlands’ five-time LET winner Anne Van Dam finished in third.
What is the next event?
The next event on the Ladies European Tour is the Hills Open taking place between 22-24 August at the Hills Golf & Sports Club in Gothenburg, Sweden.