South African Ashleigh Simon claimed the ISPS Handa Portugal Ladies Open by three shots after carding a brilliant five under par 67 in windy conditions at CampoReal Resort and Spa near Lisbon on Sunday.
The Johannesburg 22-year-old dislodged veteran Gwladys Nocera atop the leaderboard with eight birdies and three bogeys on a warm final day in the municipality of Torres Vedras.
Simon took command after she went to the turn in three-under 33, to move four ahead of overnight leader Nocera. She carded two bogeys and four birdies coming home for a back nine total of two under 34 to finish on 16 under par overall.
It was her second victory on the Iberian Peninsula, her only other victory coming at the 2007 Catalonia Ladies Masters in Spain, shortly after turning professional at the age of 18 almost exactly four years ago. Her best finish this season had been a tie for seventh at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.
Runner-up Nocera, who began the day with a one stroke advantage, had a nightmare start to the final round and was out in 38 with four bogeys and an eagle on the front nine. She recovered well with birdies on each of the closing three holes for a one under par 71 after the strong winds of the morning had calmed down.
The recent Turkish Airlines Ladies Open winner Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands finished third on nine under par after a final round of 72.
Italian Diana Luna, who shot 73, finished tied fourth with Frenchwoman Virginie Lagoutte-Clement, who posted 74. South African Stacy Lee Bregman and England’s Georgina Simpson were a shot further back in joint sixth, with English rookie Rachel Jennings a shot further back in eighth place.
Rebecca Codd was the only Irishwoman left in the field. She finished in a tie for 44th on six over par after a final round 81.
