Maja Stark is the wire-to-wire winner of the Women’s NSW Open. The 22-year-old Swede remains in the lead for all 4 rounds, completing a final lap in 70 strokes (-2) and, with a result of -15, seals her third win on the Ladies European Tour, ahead of compatriot Johanna Gustavsson.
At Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, Race to Costa del Sol No. 1 scored a birdie on the first hole, but missed a shot on the 12th, while colleague and compatriot Gustavsson made three birdies in the first nine holes, approaching the champion in command.
The last five holes, however, see Stark do a bogey and three birdies to confirm her first place, her third from her when she turned pro last August.
Maja Stark, statements
“It seemed like the victory might slip away from me… Johanna on hole 12 was just a shot back and the situation put me under stress,” said the young winner.
The 29-year-old Swede in 2nd position, at -10, had started really strong, with 3 birdies on the first nine holes, followed by as many bogeys from holes 14 to 16, which stopped her comeback. Argentine Magdalena Simmermacher finishes the final round with 71 strokes and, with a result of -9, takes third place for the second week in a row.
Scottish Michele Thomson and Australian Cassie Porter finish the tournament in 8 strokes below PAR and are 4e, tied. Followed, one shot further back, are British Hannah Burke and Welsh Lydia Hall, in 6th place on the leaderboard.
Australian champion Sarah Hammett is confirmed as the best amateur for the second consecutive week. She made a -5 of the day (67 shots) to rank 8ava, at -6, together with the English projectile Alice Hewson. The blue Virginia Elena Carta does an encore and also concludes the final round in 70 strokes (-2), writing 4 birdies and two bogeys on the score.
Her excellent performance brings her to -4 total and she is 12th in the leaderboard of the Women ‘s NSW Open, while she climbs to 34th position in the Race to Costa del Sol.
