Linn Grant – ©Tristan Jones/LET

It was a dream start to life on the Ladies European Tour (LET) for Linn Grant, as the Swedish star secured a five-stroke victory at the Joburg Ladies Open on her first start as a full member. .

The 22-year-old was co-leader with Maria Hernandez (-5) heading into the final day, but she proved stronger than the rest on the final 18 holes at Modderfontein Golf Club, posting a final round of 67 (-6) to win with a five-stroke lead in Johannesburg (-11).

Grant's victory is her third in a month on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, having won the Dimension Data Ladies Challenge and the Jabra Ladies Classic in February.

And she completed her South African hat-trick in style on Saturday, with the rest of the field left with no response to her incredible final round.

“It's always nice to win a victory, it's an extraordinary feeling. It was great to come to the Sunshine Ladies Tour before the start of the LET season to enjoy the good weather and practice”, said Linn Grant.

“I always feel like there are some scary holes here, especially coming on the back nine, you have to keep your shots together and there are a few holes you have to be wary of on the going nine. too, so I tried not to do anything stupid. »

Grant had already demonstrated her talent by finishing second twice on the circuit in 2021, having secured invitations to the Didriksons Skaftö Open and the Creekhouse Ladies Open, but after securing her card at Q-School in December, she did not wasted no time in making his mark as a full-time member.

The 2017 Ping Junior Solheim Cup star showed no sign of nervousness heading into the final group as she birdied the first and second holes to create an early gap in front of the field. head, before taking a blow on the fifth to widen a considerable gap.

A drop on the six was quickly forgotten, with birdies on the seven and eight, putting him at -9 on the turn, with Kim Metraux as the closest opponent four shots away.

A smile beamed across her face as she nonchalantly advanced on the back nine, with another birdie from the 13th green to put her in double figures under par with five holes remaining.

And as the stand watched her go to the final hole, Grant recovered one more shot on the 18th after the last of a series of perfectly executed approaches to the final green to finish at -11 on aggregate.

"I feel like with the two events in Sweden last year, I got used to the LET a bit, so coming here this week wasn't a big first, but it was still my first event », said Linn Grant.

“On the approach of 18, I was going to aim for the flag on the right, but I changed at the last minute to go after it, and it was a nervous putt to finish. »

Metraux achieved the best score of his career in South Africa. The Swiss star maintained his good form from Friday to the weekend, making four birdies for a final score of 71 (-2) and a second place.

The par-5s proved fruitful for the left-hander, who capitalized on the first, eighth and tenth holes to gain a lead, despite dropping on the eight.

And the 26-year-old was delighted with her performance throughout the week, as she notched her first top 10 since the 2021 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open last September thanks to a birdie on the final hole, after having makes a bogey at 17.

“It was pretty good, I made a few mistakes today here and there, I had a few lip-outs but I'm happy with the way I played again”, she said.

“I'm really satisfied and happy to have come here to play this way and I'm proud of myself. I felt comfortable playing here and really enjoyed the course. »

“It was a bit calmer playing in the penultimate group and I gained experience in Switzerland so I focused on my game and nothing else so I was happy with that. »

“I was annoyed with my mistake on the 17th to bogey so I had to drop and hit a good shot into the green on the 18th so I was happy to make the putt and recover a shot. »

Three players are tied for third place at the Joburg Ladies Open, with Alice Hewson and Hernandez finishing at -5 with local favorite Nicole Garcia, after rounds of 72 (-1), 73 (par) and 71 (-1) respectively .

Garcia, from Johannesburg, started his day with two consecutive birdies, before suffering drops at 3 and 7 to return to level par.

But she reacted brilliantly to these setbacks by making an eagle on the 8, which allows her to finish twice in the top 10 in as many tournaments this season.

"My hitting was better today, but I just couldn't get things going on the back nine, I couldn't build momentum", said Garcia.

"Hopefully my results will continue to improve each week, but we'll see, we have the Investec South African Women's Open next week, so hopefully I can keep the momentum going that week. »

“I'm incredibly proud because I'm from Joburg, I've played this course many times and it's really close to home so I'm really happy to be part of it. »

Elsewhere, American Kelly Whaley managed to break into the top 10 for the second time in a row by finishing in sixth place, with a total of -4 after a last lap of 72 (-1), while Stacy Lee Bregman and Alexandra Swayne tied for seventh at -2.

Former Solheim Cup star Becky Brewerton and Kristyna Napoleaova complete the top 10 with -1, while seven other players are tied.

The win in Johannesburg sees Grant tied for the lead in the 2022 Race to Costa Del Sol with 500,00 points, and tied with Aramco Saudi Ladies International winner Georgia Hall and Esther Henseleit , the winner of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

Kim Metraux also rocketed up the rankings after his strong performance in South Africa. The Swiss is behind Johanna Gustavsson and Napoleaova in sixth position with 324,10 points.

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Joburg Ladies Open