Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby closed with a birdie on the 72nd hole to win the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic in Mauritius by one stroke, securing her second LET title with her mother on the bag.
Smilla Tarning Soenderby claimed her second Ladies European Tour title in the most fitting fashion, rolling in a birdie on the 18th to become the first-ever winner of the MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius at the Constance Belle Mare Plage.The Dane finished at 14-under-par after a final round of 67, edging out Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjäll and South Africa’s Casandra Alexander by a single shot.”It feels unbelievable,” said Soenderby. “It’s going to be the most special thing we will ever experience together and I’m so grateful for it.”
A family affair on the fairways
What made the victory all the more meaningful was who was carrying the bag. Soenderby’s mother Kirsten caddied for her throughout the week, rekindling a partnership that stretched back to her junior days.
“It was so nice to have my mum with me,” said Soenderby. “It reminds me of junior days when she used to come and caddie for me, and we haven’t done this since back then.”
Soenderby’s final round was a test of nerve. Three opening pars were followed by a bogey on four, before an eagle on six steadied the ship. Back-to-back birdies on nine and 10 moved her into contention, and further birdies on 13 and 15 kept her in the hunt despite a bogey on 14. She reached the par-5 18th in two and holed the birdie putt to seal it.
“I had no idea of the situation as we were coming down 18,” she said. “When I made the birdie putt, I had to check the leaderboard to see what it was actually for. That was nice to realise.”
Arwefjäll sets the target
Sweden’s Arwefjäll gave Soenderby plenty to think about, firing a bogey-free 66 to post 13-under in the clubhouse and set the target.
“I was enjoying myself out there,” said Arwefjäll. “I was nervous, I’m not going to lie. I was shaking a little bit, but it’s always fun. I was hitting my driver well and giving myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
The Swede finished in a share of second alongside Alexander, who birdied 16 and then eagled the last to close with a flourish.
taly’s Anna Zanusso provided the round of the day — and the tournament. A bogey-free 63 was the best score ever recorded on the Legend Course and her lowest as a professional, lifting her to solo fourth at 11-under.
“I started playing very solidly and then at the end I finished with three birdies in the last four,” said Zanusso. “I am surprised with the nine-under, but not the bogey-free element.”
Order of Merit shake-up
France’s Laisné leads the LET Order of Merit on 1,428.70 points, with Alexander closing to within 46.05 points in second. Försterling has moved up to fourth, Arwefjäll to sixth, and Soenderby’s victory has propelled her from 117th to 10th.
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Picture Credit: Tristan Jones/LET
