Lauren Walsh endured a frustrating final round at the Australian Women's Classic, carding a round of 74 that saw here finish in a a share of 16th, with victory going to Belgian Manon De Roey.
Walsh, four shots off the leads overnight, started well with a birdie on two but bogeys on six and seven and a double bogey on 10, ended any prospect of a real challenge at Coffs Harbour. She then took a seven at the par-five 14th but regained her composure to birdie 15 and 17. The Castlewarden native signed for a 74, leaving her on two under, some seven shots behind the winner.
Anna Foster (+4) also posted a 74 for a share of 53rd spot.
De Roey made a clutch birdie at the 18th hole to clinch the title on nine under and become a three-time Ladies European Tour winner. On a nervy final day, she kept her cool late on dialling in an excellent approach to seven feet at the par-four before sinking the decisive putt.
Clutch finish! Manon De Roey birdies 18 to clinch her third LET victory 🏆#AusWomensClassic pic.twitter.com/du9TQ7ZAzL
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 16, 2025
Trailing Australia’s Sarah Kemp by two shots prior to the start of play, De Roey started well with a birdie on three as Thai teenager Cholcheva Wongras made a charge elsewhere.
This was followed by a dropped shot at the fifth before the sixth proved a decisive turning point – De Roey bogeying the par-five as Kemp hit it out of bounds to card a double-bogey.
One group ahead, Wongras, just 17, found herself in the outright lead thanks to back-to-back chip-ins.
De Roey responded with a birdie at the seventh to level things up leaving things wide open heading into the back nine.
Both Wongras and Kemp were unable to respond dropping a pair of shots each as De Roey kept steady carding eight pars in a row.
With Gainer in the clubhouse lead on eight-under after a pair of excellent birdies at the 17th and 18th, it all came down to the final hole. De Roey would rip her drive down the middle before dialling in an excellent 54-degree wedge to seven feet. Under pressure she then rolled in the birdie to clinch the title.
In solo second finished Gainer on after her hot finish. Wongras – a star in the making – finished the week in third on seven-under.
Sweden's Kajsa Arwefjall fired a 66 (-4) to share fourth alongside Kemp on six under. The home favourite returned to action this week for the first time since breaking her leg seven months ago.
Wales’ Darcey Harry, Austria’s Emma Spitz, Australia’s Grace Kim and Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova finished the 54-hole tournament in a tie for sixth on five under.
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