Hedwall Handles the Sotogrande breeze

Caroline Hedwall took control on a sunny and breezy day at the La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, posting a third round of 70 to lead by one over Céline Herbin and Esther Henseleit.

With a five-under-par total, the 30-year-old Swede has her sights set on a seventh Ladies European Tour title, a place in the Evian Championship and a fourth Solheim Cup appearance. A top 10 finish following tomorrow’s final round will see her into the top three places on the European Cup rankings, while a win will move her to the top of the list.

Playing in 23C and a howling wind gusting at 20 miles per hour, Hedwall carded three birdies and a solitary bogey on Saturday.

“I had a good chance on numbers three and five and didn’t make them and then I two-putted for birdie on number six. Then I made a decent putt on the seventh and hit it close on nine. It was more about me getting close for birdie opportunities than getting on a run, but it was nice,” said Hedwall.

“I bogeyed the 10^th and on 16, I was just short of the green and I mis-read the chip and it ended up in the bunker behind but it was a good up and down so I was really happy with that par. I was just trying to be in a good position going into the last day and I achieved that.

“I wouldn’t say that it was comfortable playing in the windy conditions, because it was challenging, but I’m very happy with my game. I created a lot of birdie opportunities so I’m looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully I can put in another good round,” said Hedwall, whose last win on tour came at the 2018 Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Golf du Médoc.

Another former French Open winner, Herbin, who won in 2015 at Golf du Chantaco, had a 73 to sit one back from the lead. She said: “Obviously it was quite tough and there was a little bit less wind than yesterday but it was still difficult to make good decisions and I had more problems on the greens with 35 putts instead of 29 yesterday, which made a big difference. I hit the ball well and had good feelings with my long game so hopefully I can get a hot putter tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Henseleit, the leading first year professional on the LET, held a two-stroke lead after 11 holes but slipped one behind into joint second with a 74.

She went out in one-under but then made four bogeys in a row from the 12^th followed by a birdie from four metres on the short 17^th.

She said: “I was struggling a bit with my putter and then my irons weren’t that good on those holes, so bogeys were alright and I had a good birdie and a solid par to finish.”

Spain’s Maria Parra kept hopes of a home victory alive with a 72 to sit two shots off the lead and share fourth place with Frenchwoman Camille Chevalier.

England’s Ellie Givens lies in sixth on one-under, with Spain’s Carmen Alonso, Sweden’s Daniela Holmqvist and Germany’s Olivia Cowan tied for seventh on level par. England’s Charlotte Thompson, the joint halfway leader, carded a third round 78, which included back-to-back triple bogeys on holes 10 and 11 and she slipped back to 10^th on one-over-par.

END

ESTHER AND CHARLOTTE SHARE LEAD AT

 

 WINDY SOTOGRANDE

BY BETH CUTLER

SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN – May 17, 2019: Esther Henseleit and Charlotte Thompson handled the gusts whipping across La Reserva Club de Sotogrande to share the lead after the second day of the LET’s newest tournament in Spain.

The duo carded rounds of 72 and 73 respectively in tough conditions to sit on five-under-par in the La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, hosted by Annika.

Henseleit, the leading rookie on the LET this season after five top 10 finishes, made birdies on the par-5 sixth and 16^th holes and had just two bogeys on her card.

She said: “I think level par was really good, because the wind was crazy and you needed to hit three clubs more than yesterday, so it was tough and I’m happy to be done and happy with my score.

“I really like the challenge, but I think it’s really hard to putt in the wind. If the wind is so strong, then you need to think of it when you’re putting and that’s the most difficult thing. My putter wasn’t that hot, so I hope I can do better on the greens tomorrow.”

Overnight leader Thompson, who shot an opening 66 which included holing a surprise wedge shot for eagle at the par-5 second yesterday, double bogeyed the same hole early on to slip back to four-under-par but fought back with a birdie on the long sixth hole. Although she dropped shots on the seventh and ninth, she recovered her position at the top of the leader board with birdies on holes 13 and 15.

She said afterwards: “You’re going to drop shots around here, especially in this wind. I’m really pleased with the way I dealt with it.

“I’d definitely take that. I didn’t start off well with a double at the second but a huge turning point for me was parring 10, 11 and 12. They are difficult holes today because the wind was from a different direction.”

The duo are one ahead of French pair Celine Herbin and Camille Chevalier, who both shot 70s on a day when only six players carded sub par rounds.

Former French Open champion Herbin said: “It was a slow start with a double bogey but the conditions were very tough and you needed a lot of patience. I was plus two after nine holes and had a three-putt on my 10^th, so I was plus three and then after that, I don’t know what happened, but the birdies arrived. I had five birdies in the last eight holes to finish on minus two. It was obviously good to finish under par in those conditions. Just one bad swing on the first hole and then after that I played great.

“I spent at least two or three winters practising at a course just next to here, so I’m definitely used to the wind. I’ve also practised often in the north of Spain, which is also very windy, so my game suits the wind quite well.”

Germany’s Olivia Cowan (73) lies in fifth place, with the local crowd favourite Maria Parra (74), fellow Spaniard Carmen Alonso (70) and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall (70) tied for sixth on two-under-par.

Hedwall is trying to qualify for a fourth Solheim Cup appearance and played with Team Europe captain Catriona Matthew. The fiery Swede, a member of two winning teams in 2011 and 2013, said: “I tried to just focus on this tournament, because my ideal goal is to play myself on the team anyway and not rely on a pick. I try to focus on playing well and getting points, so I can get up the rankings.

“I had a couple of good breaks in the beginning and it was unfortunate to finish with a double but I’m in contention for the weekend and that was my plan for the first two days, so I’m happy.

“It’s a tough course, especially with this wind, so it’s been a good challenge, but two under today is a good score. It was hard to make birdies and I managed to make four birdies and an eagle.”

Isabelle Boineau from France had the lowest round of the day – a 69 – to lie in ninth place, ahead of Maria Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Indian rookie professional Tvesa Malik made her first hole-in-one, using a 6-iron at the 167 yard par-3 15^th, but she  bogeyed the next two holes to miss the cut by one shot on eight-over-par.

She said afterwards: “I hit the perfect shot. It was a right to left wind and I got it to drop exactly where I wanted. I wasn’t expecting it as I’ve never had a hole-in-one so it was a nice surprise. It felt really good. I missed a couple of birdies before that so I felt like I made up for it. Now I know how it feels to make a hole-in-one, so hopefully I can do it again.”

 

Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic - Final Result

Emirates Golf Club - Faldo Course

Pos	Player Name	Nat.	Winnings	Par	Score	R1	R2	R3
1	Nuria Iturrios (ESP)		38,193.30	-10	206	67	68	71
2	Olivia Cowan (GER)		19,096.65	-9	207	66	70	71
2	Esther Henseleit (GER)		19,096.65	-9	207	69	66	72
4	Karolin Lampert (GER)		11,457.99	-8	208	68	70	70
5	Caroline Hedwall (SWE)		8,529.84	-7	209	68	72	69
5	Leona Maguire (IRL)		8,529.84	-7	209	64	75	70
7	Carly Booth (SCO)		7,129.42	-6	210	68	75	67
8	Gabriella Cowley (ENG)		6,263.70	-5	211	73	72	66
8	Sarah Kemp (AUS)		6,263.70	-5	211	69	74	68
10	Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)		5,779.92	-4	212	69	72	71
10	Noora Komulainen (FIN)		5,779.92	-4	212	70	70	72
12	Hannah Burke (ENG)		5,397.99	-3	213	72	69	72
13	Katja Pogacar (SLO)		4,481.35	-1	215	74	72	69
13	Trish Johnson (ENG)		4,481.35	-1	215	73	72	70
13	Christine Wolf (AUT)		4,481.35	-1	215	74	70	71
13	Lynn Carlsson (SWE)		4,481.35	-1	215	71	73	71
13	Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)		4,481.35	-1	215	73	71	71
13	Liz Young (ENG)		4,481.35	-1	215	71	72	72
13	Kanyalak Preedasuttijit (THA)		4,481.35	-1	215	71	69	75
20	Laura Fuenfstueck (GER)		3,730.22	Par	216	73	72	71
20	Linda Wessberg (SWE)		3,730.22	Par	216	74	70	72
22	Diksha Dagar (IND)		3,335.55	+1	217	74	73	70
22	Florentyna Parker (ENG)		3,335.55	+1	217	73	73	71
22	Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP)		3,335.55	+1	217	74	71	72
22	Lina Boqvist (SWE)		3,335.55	+1	217	73	72	72
22	Beth Allen (USA)		3,335.55	+1	217	72	71	74
27	Cajsa Persson (SWE)		2,902.70	+2	218	75	71	72
27	Kylie Henry (SCO)		2,902.70	+2	218	69	73	76
29	Valdis Thora Jonsdottir (ISL)		2,490.20	+3	219	72	79	68
29	Emily Kristine Pedersen (DEN)		2,490.20	+3	219	74	74	71
29	Julia Engstrom (SWE)		2,490.20	+3	219	73	73	73
29	Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA)		2,490.20	+3	219	76	70	73
29	Tonje Daffinrud (NOR)		2,490.20	+3	219	73	71	75
34	Noemi Jimenez Martin (ESP)		2,100.63	+4	220	76	72	72
34	Emma Cabrera-Bello (ESP)		2,100.63	+4	220	76	71	73
34	Maha Haddioui (MAR)		2,100.63	+4	220	76	71	73
34	Becky Morgan (WAL)		2,100.63	+4	220	73	73	74
38	Camilla Lennarth (SWE)		1,767.08	+5	221	74	78	69
38	Amy Boulden (WAL)		1,767.08	+5	221	77	70	74
38	Sian Evans (ENG)		1,767.08	+5	221	72	74	75
38	Meghan MacLaren (ENG)		1,767.08	+5	221	71	73	77
38	Holly Clyburn (ENG)		1,767.08	+5	221	71	73	77
43	Isabelle Boineau (FRA)		1,604.12	+6	222	71	76	75
43	Camille Chevalier (FRA)		1,604.12	+6	222	73	74	75
43	Astrid Vayson De Pradenne (FRA)		1,604.12	+6	222	72	74	76
46	Rebecca Artis (AUS)		1,553.19	+7	223	74	75	74
47	Cheyenne Woods (USA)		1,502.27	+8	224	77	76	71
47	Lydia Hall (WAL)		1,502.27	+8	224	76	74	74
47	Silvia Banon (ESP)		1,502.27	+8	224	71	78	75
50	Lisa Maguire (IRL)		1,400.42	+11	227	75	76	76
50	Felicity Johnson (ENG)		1,400.42	+11	227	75	75	77
50	Sophie Lamb (ENG)		1,400.42	+11	227	75	75	77
53	Carmen Alonso (ESP)		1,298.57	+13	229	72	79	78
54	Becky Brewerton (WAL)		1,247.65	+14	230	78	75	77
55	Manon Molle (FRA)		1,196.72	+15	231	79	75	77
56	Victoria Fricot (AUS)		1,145.80	+24	240	77	81	82

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