Leona Maguire triumphed over formidable competition to secure her maiden Ladies European Tour title at the Aramco Team Series, held at the Centurion Club.
The final round unfolded under grey skies and persistent rain, but the inclement weather didn’t deter the dedicated fans who flocked to the Hertfordshire course.
Maguire set the pace with impressive opening rounds of 66 and 72, maintaining a two-shot lead at 8-under over England’s Georgia Hall.
The tournament’s final grouping of Maguire, Hall, and Austria’s Sarah Schober saw fluctuating fortunes on the front nine, opening the leaderboard up for the chasing pack.
Maguire, despite beginning with two birdies, stumbled by dropping four shots in five holes, including a double bogey on the 7th after a lost ball. Meanwhile, Hall carded two birdies and a bogey on the front nine, making the turn at 7-under, tied for the lead with the USA’s Alison Lee.
Lee, starting the day seven shots behind, carded a spectacular seven birdies in nine holes to leapfrog the leaderboard and find herself in prime position.
Talking on her shaky start, Maguire said: “That’s golf, it’s going to happen. I knew some of the girls were going to go low today but I knew there were birdie opportunities on the back nine.”
As the rain eased and the sun attempted to break through, the back nine seemed poised for a thrilling three-way contest — or so it seemed.
France’s Agathe Sauzon posted a 7-under 66, taking an early clubhouse lead at 5-under before Lauren Walsh carded a remarkable 8-under par 65 to finish 6-under for the tournament.
Spain’s Maria Hernandez, who began the day at 2-under, quietly ascended the leaderboard, capping her round with a birdie on the last hole for a blemish-free 5-under 68, finishing at 7-under.
Lee’s dazzling run was marred by bogeys on two of the last five holes, including the final hole, concluding her event at 6-under.
This left Maguire and Hall both at 6-under, one stroke behind Hernandez, with only the short par-5 18th remaining.
Hall’s second shot fell short left, while Maguire executed one of the shots of the tournament, sticking her approach to within six feet for eagle.
With Hall failing to make up-and-down for her birdie, the stage was set for Leona Maguire.
Calm and composed, the world number 32 rolled the left-to-right putt into the back of the cup, securing her first Ladies European Tour victory and becoming the first Irish woman to win on the tour.
Reflecting on an adrenaline-filled final round, Maguire praised her perseverance in securing the historic win.
“It was a bit of an up-and-down day, I never really got any momentum going. I just kept telling myself to stay patient, stay patient. It was nice to finish in style and get things over the line”.
