Georgia Hall – ©Tristan Jones/LET

In the second event of the Ladies European Tour (LET) season, Hall had a regular week at the Royal Greens with rounds of 69 (-3), 69 (-3), 68 (-4) and 71 (-1 ) to finish top of the standings and add her second LET title to her victory at the Women's Open 2018.

On the final day, the England star had five birdies and four bogeys on his way to victory and as a result also sits at the top of the Race to Costa del Sol standings alongside Germany's Esther Henseleit.

"The front nine was a little easier, a little less windy than what we had," Hall said. “I tried to take advantage of that and hit some really good shots on the going nine to get ahead, which allowed me to settle in.

“I was happy with the shots I hit on 15 and 16. It was windier than yesterday and 15 and 16 can be very tricky so I tried to limit the damage. I was really happy with my birdie on 17.”

This one feels good! 🏆🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/NrPa3aeAwI

— Georgia Hall ⛳️ (@georgiahall96) March 20, 2022

After sinking her final putt, Hall was congratulated by fellow European Solheim Cup star Emily Kristine Pedersen, who shed tears of joy.

“Leading all week is very special. I think the first round was really very important for me. I played this round unbelievably. It really set me up for the rest of the week,” she continued.

"Sometimes it's not always easy to go into the last day with a five-stroke lead, it puts a bit more pressure on you, but I was really happy with the way I did today. .

“It's fantastic to win in March, at the start of the season. I really like this place and love the golf course. I was well past 18, and Emily started crying, which made me cry. I was just really proud of the way I played today. »

Sweden's Johanna Gustavsson and Czech rookie Kristyna Napoleaova tied for second place at (-6) – five strokes behind winner Hall at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

It was an amazing week for Napoleaova, who was a former AC Sparta footballer and only started playing golf in the summer of 2016.

" It's like a dream. I did not even expect to participate in this event and what happened this week, I feel like a fairy tale,” said the 25-year-old.

“It was an absolutely amazing week. I'm so grateful to be here. I can not wait to return. I think everyone wants to win and I hope that one day, very soon, it will come for me too. »

While it's been a great start to the season for Gustavsson who is following his T8 at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open with a T2 this week thanks to a birdie at the last.

 It was unexpected. I didn't play very well at the start of the week, I managed to find my drives and I played really well this weekend,” said the Swede.

“I think the greens are fine for me and I can clearly see the lines, and it was a good week of putting. We've been working on the swing for years, Alex and I, and this winter we didn't have much to do.

“One of my big goals has always been to make it to the Women's Open this year, and it would be nice to do that without qualifying. I will continue to try to do so”.

🏆 CHAMPIONS 🏆@ georgiahall96 win the 2022 @AramcoLadiesInt, let the celebrations begin 🏆🥳#RaiseOurGame | #SaudiLadiesInt pic.twitter.com/j73MbuCB3g

- Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) March 20, 2022

Denmark's Pedersen, who won this event in 2020, finished in fourth place with (-5) after a final lap of 67 (-5), while Spain's Carlota Ciganda was a shot further in fifth.

“I think the greens suit me and I can line the lines very well, and it was a good week of putting. We've been working on the swing for years, Alex and I, and this winter we didn't have much to do.

“One of my big goals has always been to make it to the Women's Open this year, and it would be nice to do that without qualifying. I will continue to try to do so”.

Denmark's Pedersen, who won this event in 2020, finished in fourth place with (-5) after a final lap of 67 (-5), while Spain's Carlota Ciganda was a shot further in fifth.

American Kelly Whaley put in a spectacular performance on the final day, tying the course record with 63 (-9) and setting a LET tournament record with eight consecutive birdies.

The 24-year-old catapulted herself into the final standings by finishing tied for sixth place with a score of (-3).

“It's the best lap I've ever had in a tournament. My goal today was to enjoy it and have fun, as this is my first international professional event. I've never had eight birdies in a row. It's something memorable for anyone,” said the Epson Tour player.

“You almost pass out when you do that, but I kept telling myself one after another until we were done. It's a long day, and there are a lot of holes. Once I made four or five birdies, I was like, 'ok, you're in the game now. You can't stop.

“I just gave myself opportunities and I had a lot of fun. I think in those situations the pressure can get to you, and it gets almost intimidating, but I really went into the day trying to enjoy every shot and find something on every hole that I liked. »

Whaley finished the Aramco Saudi Ladies International alongside Australian Steph Kyriacou, who also holds the course record, and three-time champion Anna Nordqvist.

Dutch star Anne Van Dam finished in ninth place with a score of (-2). Germany's Sophie Witt, America's Angel Yin and South Africa's Nicole Garcia all finished in tenth place with the same score.

In the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol, Hall and Henseleit lead the standings with 500 points each, while Sweden's Gustavsson climbed to third place with 353,75 points earned in the first two events.

Spain's Marta Sanz Barrio is fourth with 320 points, Czech Napoleaova is fifth with 275 points and Sweden's Linnea Ström is sixth with 230 points.

2020 Race to Costa del Sol champion Pedersen is in seventh alongside Germany's Sophie Hausmann. South African Lee-Anne Pace is ninth and Spaniard Carlota Ciganda completes the top 10.

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To read our last article on the same subject :

Aramco Saudi Ladies International: Hall and Witt lead the way