Pauline Roussin Bouchard - © Tristan Jones / LET

Pauline Rousin-Bouchard won this Sunday in Sweden. Things were not easy for the Varoise despite a four-stroke lead at the start of the last round, against Argentina's Magdalena Simmermacher, who squeezed her to the last hole.

The Frenchwoman opens her counter for her second tournament as a professional player, having ended her amateur life just a fortnight ago, celebrating the occasion in the best possible way with a final score of 68 (-1 ) enough to seal his first victory over LET.

“It was a little stressful to be honest, because I played well but the putts weren't coming in, and when you see other people birdies in front of you, it was pretty stressful,” said Roussin Bouchard.

“But I always say it all depends on the finish, and I birdieed on the 17th, so it was really the finish. "

“I did three birdies on par-3s, I really learned to play them with the wind because it was pretty much the same every day, so I knew how to play it at 17 and I just dark. "

2nd tournament among the pros and already a first title for @pauline_roussin on the occasion of the Didriksons Skafto Open in Sweden 🏆

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Roussin Bouchard lost a stroke on the first hole and the Argentinian player who made birdies on holes 1 and 2, the advantage of four strokes began to melt, and after Simmermacher recovered two more points on holes 5 and 6, the advance was only suddenly after the nine to go.

Another bogey from the former world number one put the two players down to -9 with eight holes to go, before Simmermacher took the lead with a birdie in the 16th.

But the decisive moment came on the penultimate hole, when the South American settled for a bogey, while the 21-year-old birdie for a one-stroke lead to the approaching the 18th.

And she kept her cool to keep her lead on the last hole, securing her first professional victory after just two appearances, and a fourth place finish at the Four Winds Invitational on the Symetra Tour earlier this month.

Even though Alin Alberti's protege felt the stress, she never showed it on the course, caddeyée this week by her mother, she was constantly in a good mood having at heart to fully enjoy her victory with her mother to her sides.

"It was a special moment to share with her, especially now that I study in the United States and don't see her that often", she said.

“It was a victory for my mother, my brother, my father and my grandmother who followed me from home. I did it, but I couldn't have done it without their support. "

 

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Simmermacher finished tied for second with Linn Grant, who clocked an excellent 62 (-7) on the final matchday, allowing him to finish in the top 3 in his first professional event.

The Ping Junior Solheim Cup 2017 player was in inspired form around the greens on Sunday, as she didn't let go a single shot all day, and finished with a fantastic birdie on the last hole, which was greeted by heavy applause from fans.

Grant birdied on holes three, six and nine, while two more birdies were made on holes 10 and 15, before scoring two more on the last two holes to conclude a day to remember for the young woman. of 22, who finished as the best Swedish in her country.

“I had a great day, it was a smooth golfing day. I was not very nervous, I have the impression that every putt was achievable ”, Grant said.

“I wasn't really thinking about winning today, I thought Pauline would make a six cents or something, I had a great time thinking about my own game and having a great day. "

Elsewhere on the pitch, Sanna Nuutinen grabbed her first top 10 since the Big Green Egg Open in June, after finishing fourth in Sweden. The Finn tied Grant's turn with a stunning 62 to finish eight under par.

The Race to Costa del Sol contender didn't bogey on her last 18 holes, and even landed an eagle on the 15th, as she ramped up to take the lead.

“I haven't done any bogeys so that's good. There was still a breeze, but nothing like it on the first day ”, said Nuutinen.

“I was really looking forward to this event, because I love playing in Sweden, because it reminds me of Finland! ".

After her fourth place in Scandinavia, Nuutinen closed the gap between her and the top two places in the Race to Costa del Sol. She now has 1 points, and only 281,27 points behind Steph Kyriacou, second, while leader Atthaya Thitikul has 26,06 points.

With the end of the season fast approaching, the fight for first place looks set to be over the edge, and the 30-year-old still has hopes of recapturing her closest rivals.

“I always watch them, whenever we get to the last day, where Steph and Atthaya are. "

“We were all in the top 10 this week, and that's why we are in the top 3 in the Race to Costa del Sol standings, it's exciting. "

The other French women finish further in the ranking of this Didriksons Skaftö Open. Justine Dreher (67) finishes 15th at -1, Agathe Sauzon (65) is 17th in par, Emma Grechi (69) is 25th at +3, Anne-Charlotte Mora (69) and Anaïs Meyssonnier (70) are 29th at + 4, and finally Astrid Vayson de Pradenne (72) and Manon Gidali (75) are 53rd at +9.

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To read our last article on the same subject :

Pauline Roussin Bouchard interview Augusta National Women's Amateur