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Linda Wessberg claims maiden victory at the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe
Sweden 's Linda Wessberg defeated England 's Laura Davies by a shot to secure her first Ladies European Tour title and the first prize of £52,500 at the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe.
The 26-year old from Gothenburg won with a birdie at the 18 th hole after a thrilling final round at Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club which saw many of Europe 's finest battle for the prestigious title.
After leading overnight by two shots, Wessberg posted a final round 71 for a 72-hole total of 14-under-par 274. Davies had a 67 for her fourth runners-up spot of the season.
Gwladys Nocera, a three-time winner on the Tour from France, had given the field a tough task by producing a marvellous final round of six-under-par 66 to post the clubhouse lead and she eventually tied for third position with Australian rookie Nikki Garrett on 12-under.
Nocera was leading the Tour's New Star Money List over Davies and needed to finish in a higher position than the English woman to retain her position at European no.1, but Davies, playing a group behind the French woman, birdied the final hole to finish a shot better than Nocera on 13-under and in doing so seized the lead in the official rankings.
Wessberg, playing three groups behind Davies, reached the 18 th tee tied with the English woman on 13-under but found the perfect position in the middle of the fairway with her tee shot. She then hit a great approach shot leaving herself a 20 foot eagle chance. The Swede, who is in her third season playing on the Ladies European Tour, just missed the eagle chance but safely two-putted for birdie securing the victory.
I was very nervous on that last hole, said Wessberg. I was looking at score boards all day and I'm a match play player so I would say that gave me the extra edge.
The Swede admitted that she benefited from hiring a local caddy for the week who knew the read of the greens at the Machynys club.
James Graham, a five-handicapper and member of Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club, took a few days off from his day-job as a painter and decorator to caddy and helped to line up Wessberg's putts throughout the tournament. She said: His local knowledge has helped me a lot this week. He knew better than I did about the breaks and it's been really helpful.
It will not surprise many who know Wessberg that she has won on the LET. She had shown huge potential since she joined the Tour and finished sixth on the order of merit in her rookie year in 2004. Prior to her win she had finished second twice and she also finished third in the BMW Ladies Italian Open this year.
She admitted that she had not been at her best leading up to the tournament. I played really well in my first and second year but I've been struggling a bit this year. I've been hitting fairways but not getting close to the pin. It just hasn't all been coming together. Sometimes I've been playing really well but I just couldn't putt. I feel like I've kind of been waiting for this for a while.
With her prize winnings, Wessberg moves up to fifth in the New Star Money List, behind Annika Sorenstam. Nocera, who finished tied for third with Garrett, moved into second position while Garrett knocked Spaniard Tania Elosegui off the top spot in Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year standings.
Welsh ace Becky Brewerton had a 71 and tied for fourth with European Solheim Cup captain Helen Alfredsson of Sweden on ten-under-par. Brewerton felt that her first win was not too far away.
England 's Lora Fairclough had a 68 and took outright seventh position on nine-under-par.
Sophie Walker of England received a bottle of champagne for the best score by an amateur and she had a final round 75 to finish on four-under-par.
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