Esther Henseleit triples the bet winning the inaugural Magical Kenya Ladies Open, the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and the Rookie of the Year title, on a spectacular final day at Vipingo Ridge near Mombasa. Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, the best Frenchwoman, finished on a beautiful Top 5 which allowed her to keep her card on the Ladies European Tour.

Esther Henseleit wins the LET Order of Merit with her Kenyan victory

Esther Henseleit - © Tristan Jones / LET

The 20-year-old professional golfer from Hamburg became the third player in the 41-year history of the Ladies European Tour to win the Order of Merit and the title of Rookie of the Year in the season, following Dame Laura Davies in 1985 and Carlota Ciganda, in 2012.

With this victory, Esther Henseleit beat Marianne Skarpnord by becoming the first German player to win the Order of Merit and the title of Rookie of the Year, one of the most important European titles.

Henseleit registered eight birdies on the Baobab course at Vipingo Ridge for a total of 14 under par, better than India's Aditi Ashok, who reached 65. Julia Engström, leader of the day before, was third after a 74.

Esther Henseleit started the day seven strokes behind Engström but quickly made a series of birdies on the first, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes to come within two lengths of Engström.

Engström took the 10th in 3 putts while Henseleit birdieed the 11th and the pair were then tied at 12 under par. Esther Henseleit hit a lead with a birdie of 1,8m on the 13th hole, then took the lead with a 2-point lead after Engström bogeyed on the 13th.

Henseleit added an eighth birdie with a 1,2m putt in the 15th to make three hits, but saw her lead reduced to one when Ashok birded in the 16th and 18th.

Henseleit finished with three starts to secure her first Ladies European Tour title, following a professional breakthrough earlier this year in the LET Access Series, in the Skaftö Open.

Esther Henseleit said: “To end the season with a win is the best feeling I can imagine. To be a recipient of the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year is just amazing. "

“Yesterday after my turn I was a little disappointed, but I just tried to do everything better today. I really tried to win, even though I knew it would be really difficult. "

“After nine holes I saw that I was two shots behind and I knew it was possible. "

“I just tried to do a lot of birdies and had some great iron shots and gave myself a lot of little birdie putts. The course was beautiful and it played a little easier today as the greens were softer. I did my best. "

Esther Henseleit, who finished third at LET Qualifying School 12 months ago and turned pro in January with a +7,1 handicap, knew she had to win the Magical Kenya Ladies Open to snatch the Order of Merit and she's proven herself under pressure.

During her season, she scored a victory and placed in the top-10 eight times, including four second places at the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, Ladies European Thailand Championship and Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open.

She said: “It's been a great year on the Ladies European Tour. It's a very friendly ride and it's been great traveling the world every week with all the other golfers. "

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