Leona Maguire became the first Irishwoman to win on the Ladies European Tour (LET) after sinking her eagle putt on the final hole of the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – London.
The Solheim Cup star has led from the first day in the Individual competition at Centurion Club after rounds of 66 (-7) and 72 (-1).
It was an up-and-down day for the Irishwoman who made the turn in two-over par, and she was level on the back nine heading into 18 knowing she needed to make an eagle to secure victory. Maguire hit an excellent second shot to leave herself with an eagle chance and she duly rolled in the putt to make history on the LET and win with a total of eight-under-par.
“I did it the hard way today, I feel like,” said Maguire. “It was tough out there; I didn’t play my best golf but Dermot my caddie just kept saying be patient.
“He said right before that shot into 18, let’s hit shot of the year here. It was a perfect number, and my trusty hybrids came in useful once again.
“I knew Alison [Lee] was making a run, I thought I would have to get to 10-under-par – that was the number I had in my head.
“I just hung in even when things weren’t going right and waited for a turn, and it was nice to finish in style on 18. I’m looking forward to the summer ahead and couldn’t ask for a better start.
“I was just trying to hit a good putt! It was a little bit like a Solheim Cup, I knew no Irishwoman had ever won on the LET before. That putt was for me, that putt was for my family and that putt was for Ireland. It was a proud moment.”
Spain’s Maria Hernandez finished in second place on seven-under-par after a bogey-free final round of 68 (-5). The Spaniard rolled in birdies on holes one, five, 10, 16 and 18 to seal another top-10 finish on the LET in 2024.
“I played very solidly; I didn’t really put myself in any trouble during the round,” said Hernandez. “I put in a few chances; I didn’t make as many only the ones that were very close.
“I made a good putt on 16 that was four metres, but the rest of the day I had good chances that I didn’t really make. I was playing good for a long time, but I couldn’t really score so the putter has made a big difference.”
Three players finished in a share of third place with Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, America’s Alison Lee and England’s Georgia Hall all on six-under-par.
France’s Agathe Sauzon ended the week in outright sixth place on five-under with Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck one shot further back.
Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen, Morocco’s Ines Laklalech and Austria’s Sarah Schober rounded out the top 10 at Centurion Club.
In the Team competition, Team Nadaud secured victory over Team Hall after a three-hole playoff at the end of the day.
The captains headed back to the 18th tee as France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Georgia Hall went head-to-head to win the team title. Both players made an eagle on the first playoff hole and a birdie on the second playoff hole before Nadaud rolled in her birdie putt on the third to secure victory for her team.
“I don’t even know how I handled this! I was so nervous on the first tee,” said Nadaud, who is still a teenager. “I was really afraid I wouldn’t hit the ball. I was so nervous, I was trembling.”
Czechia’s Kristyna Napoleaova, who was a winning captain in Hong Kong last year, explained: “We were super nervous on the sidelines, it was amazing to watch both Nas [Nadaud] and Georgia [Hall].
“Both of them played incredible golf, I think everyone here enjoyed the playoff. It was so fun to watch. For it to be eagle-birdie-birdie from those positions. It was incredible, well done to both teams.”
“We were so nervous,” said Spain’s Mireia Prat. “Nastasia played really good and Georgia as well. It was one of the best playoffs and most exciting that I have seen. Yesterday, we played really good, and our amateur George made some good holes.”
Amateur George Brooksbank added: “It has been incredible to play with them and to watch and I had every faith, every time Nastasia had the putter in her hand I thought the ball was going into the hole. It was great to be here.”
In the LET Order of Merit, Hernandez climbed up to sixth place in the Order of Merit with Walsh now 12th and Maguire has jumped from 134th to 28th place.
Next week the LET moves onto the fourth major of the year with the Amundi Evian Championship taking place at Evian Resort Golf Club from July 11-14.
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