09/10/2016. Ladies European Tour 2016. Lacoste Ladies Open De France. . Beth Allen of the USA with her trophy. Credit: Tristan Jones

Despite a stroke behind Diana Luna at the start of the last round, it was Beth Allen who emerged victorious from the duel between the two players this Sunday in Chantaco. After eight holes, the Italian had yet four strokes ahead, thanks to birdies at holes 2, 6 and 7, against only one for the American at 7 followed by a bogey at 8. But, at the end of the outward and the start of the return, the trend was completely reversed in favor of the Californian: even if Allen conceded a new bogey at the 9 before catching up with a birdie at the 10, Luna released five shots in three holes : bogey at 9, bogey at 10 and triple bogey at 11! She therefore approached the last third of the course with a margin of one stroke. A margin that rose to two shots at 14 (Luna's bogey), three at 15 (eagle, against birdie for the Italian), and finally four at 16 (Luna's new bogey). On the last green, the two players - as well as the English Florentyna Parker, third member of the last part - finished in style, each signing a final birdie, to the applause of a large and enthusiastic Basque audience.

Sacred to -14 total thanks to this last card of 67 (-3), Beth Allen therefore succeeds Céline Herbin in the winners of the Lacoste Ladies Open in France, of which she becomes the first American winner. At 34, the San Diego native signs the second success of her career on the Ladies European Tour, a year after that obtained at the Ladies European Masters in England. "As we've been saying since the start of the week, we know anything can happen on holes 10, 11 and 12. Earlier in the game, when I was behind, I never thought it was over. , and I did not let go. I have tried to be patient and stick to my game plan, hoping things will turn out in my favor. And that's what happened », Says all smiles the player caddeyée by Sophie Gustafson, Swedish legend of international golf with sixteen victories on the LET and five on the LPGA Tour, not to mention three Solheim Cups won with Europe. " We won our first tournament together last year. She knows me very well, and she brings me a lot thanks to her experience. She is a good friend, I trust her, and I am very grateful to her », Underlines the American, who consolidates his second place in the order of merit of the circuit.

Beth Allen - Ladies Lacoste Open de France 2016 - © TPlassais / swing-feminin

Behind Allen, Diana Luna and Florentyna Parker therefore share second place, having played 72 (+2) and 67 (-3) respectively. Already second in the Lacoste Ladies Open of France in 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Romaine based in Cannes must be content with the place of Dauphine for the fourth time: “ Second, it's a good result, but I'm obviously disappointed since I counted up to four strokes ahead, and I let them slip away. This is the kind of thing that can happen on this course », She comments. The best Frenchwoman, Isabelle Boineau, placed ninth at -5 overall. Author of a beautiful card of 67 (-3), the Marseillaise started from too far to be able to join in the fight for victory, but nevertheless signs its third top 10 of the season. " If the putting had been there at the start of the week, I could have scored one or two less strokes. But we can't change things, and I'm happy to finish in the top 10. It was my goal after passing the cut around the 25^e place », Satisfied number 4 to order

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