Scotland’s Heather Macrae lists her favourite golfer as Seve Ballesteros. The late Spaniard would be proud of the up-and-down Macrae conjured to win the play-off against order of merit leader Meghan MacLaren, of England.
Speaking after her round, Macrae attributed the win to improved putting on the final day. `Feels great to win. I’ve played so well all three days but couldn’t hole anything. There was a lot of confidence in my game so I never felt nervous.`
Starting the day six shots back at the Rinkven Golf Club in Gravenwezel, the Scottish professional fired a flawless five-under 66 to come from behind and win the €35,000 Belfius Ladies Open.
While Macrae climbed eight spots to make the play-off, overnight leader Silvia Banon of Spain put herself out of contention with a final round of 74, to finish two shots back in third place.
MacLaren had a chance to win outright with a par on the last hole but a late bogey after three birdies and fourteen carefully crafted pars saw her one-shot lead evaporate.
Only one extra hole was required to declare the winner, but not without some drama and fine play. Macrae hit her drive into a water hazard left of the 18th fairway. She then took a drop and hit her third shot to within three metres of the flag.
`Today my goal was to shoot 65. I couldn’t control what anyone else does, so I thought that it would give me a chance.`
In regulation, the Scot made a birdie on the 18th. During the play-off, she was glad to be there. `It was my first poor drive of the day. Dropping from the hazard, I had to play a low shot under a tree, and it was perfect.`
Meanwhile, MacLaren missed the green with her approach and failed to make her par and Macrae claimed her second LETAS victory. `Meghan is a great player, and will win again very soon I’m sure.`
Macrae’s last win came in 2013 at the Solvesborg Ladies Open, where she also came from behind to win in a play-off against another Englishwoman, Kym Larratt.
The LET Access Series now heads to Lugo, Spain for the Ribeira Sacra Patrimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open from the 12th – 14th July.
