French star Louise Landgraf seals Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open Championship glory
French teenager Louise Landgraf said it was a breakthrough victory as she secured the Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open Championship after a stunning finale in Headfort.
The 16-year-old from Golf Club de Toulouse shot another round of 69 to finish up on -9, four shots clear of her nearest rival, Welsh golfer Carys Worby (Newport Links).
Landgraf and Worby were the only two players to finish under par with another French, Kirra St-Laurent (Biarritz Le Phare), rounding out the top three on +1.
Anna Dawson (Tramore) was the best of the Irish after she posted a round of 70 on Monday, with Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) two shots in arrears and Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) one further back on +5.
But it was Landgraf who sealed a precious victory and she will take plenty of inspiration from last year's winner Anna Dawson, who has since gone on to play in the Ladies European Tour.
'The course is really nice and I definitely can tick this one off the list and move on to the next but it's been an amazing tournament,' said Landgraf.
'She (Worby) definitely kept me on my toes on the front nine and she's a great player and she definitely put a lot of pressure on so well deserved to her too. I was really stressed and there was a lot of pressure but I just tried to play my own game and stay focused and have fun.
'I've been struggling the past couple months so finally to have this breakthrough is great for my confidence and great for the next tournament.
'I'm really happy with how I played and I'm just going to continue what I'm doing.' Landgraf took a one-shot lead into the final day ahead of Worby, and while their playing partner St-Laurent fell back with a double-bogey on the second, it was left for Landgraf and Worby to battle it out at the top of the standings.
The Welsh golfer had three birdies in her first five holes but a bogey at seven halted her momentum and she would drop two more shots coming in at 13 and 17.
There was a two-shot swing on the first, when Landgraf bogeyed, but birdies on five, seven and ten helped her retain the ascendency. And she was imperious on the back nine with three birdies and just the one bogey.
Dawson provided the biggest Irish challenge, and despite a bogey on the first she pushed on with birdies on the second, fourth and 12th.
She shot a brilliant round of 70 but it wasn't enough to breach the top-three while Langraf consolidated her power at the top.
The French youngster will be playing Junior Vagliano later this week where she will line out against Irish star Lee-McNamara and confidence is high after she produced her best golf in front of the biggest crowds of the weekend in Headfort.
'It's definitely a lot of eyes staring at you at one time, so you definitely have that added pressure as well as trying to score your best and not try to disappoint the crowd but I played great out there and put on a good show, so hopefully they're happy,' said Landgraf.
'I like to stay in my own game, in my own little bubble but to have them there was really special. He (Dad) obviously does so many things for me so it's great to share this victory with him.'
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