Finland’s Noora Komulainen birdied the par-5 18th in sudden death to claim her maiden LET title at Royal Beroun — with her husband on the bag and five-year-old daughter watching on.
Finland’s Noora Komulainen finally has her name on a LET trophy. After 14 years and 199 starts on the Ladies European Tour, the 35-year-old converted a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in a three-way playoff to win the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open at Royal Beroun Golf Club.
A dream she never stopped chasing
Komulainen came into the final round one shot off the pace and put together one of the rounds of her career — a closing 66 (-6) that included four consecutive birdies on the back nine to reach 18-under par. What made the moment all the more poignant was who was there to see it.
“I’ve been on tour for 14 years without a win,” Komulainen said. “This is my first one so it means everything. I’ve been dreaming of winning in front of my husband and daughter. So to have my husband caddying and to have her here, this is a dream come true.”
Her daughter Elli, five years old, was waiting at the 18th green when the birdie dropped. Fellow Finns Sanna Nuutinen and Ursula Wikstrom were also on hand to celebrate — a measure of the tight-knit community the Finnish contingent has built on tour.
“All the Finns are very close on tour,” Komulainen said. “I definitely have to thank all my fellow Finns as well as my team. I’ve had the same coach for many years and we continue to work very hard. Finally, we’ve got the win.”
Bosio’s career-best falls just short
Justice Bosio had every right to feel the win was hers. The Australian, in only her first full LET season, fired a stunning 64 (-8) in the final round to post 18-under alongside Komulainen and Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson. Her front nine alone featured four birdies in a row, and she reached six-under through ten holes before the tournament came to her.
On the 18th in the playoff, however, her birdie putt stayed out — as did Pettersson’s. Bosio was philosophical.
“Last week was my highest finish on the LET which I was very happy about and then this week was even better,” she said. “This course is very scoreable. The putts just didn’t drop on 18, both in regulation and in the playoff, but overall a really good week and I’m very happy.”
British and Irish interest
Among the English contingent, Esme Hamilton produced a strong week, finishing in a tie for 12th at 13-under following rounds of 64-69-70. Liz Young and Charlotte Heath also finished in the same group at 13-under, with Heath’s closing 72 meaning her earlier form — including a second-round 66 — ultimately went unrewarded.
Caley McGinty finished tied 24th at 11-under. Alice Hewson, Hannah Screen, Annabell Fuller, Lily May Humphreys, Meghan MacLaren and Jess Baker all made the cut, as did Welsh pair Lydia Hall and Luca Thompson. Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey finished tied 20th at 12-under.
Sara Byrne of Ireland finished tied 36th at 10-under, while Aine Donegan made the cut but finished at 6-under for the tournament.
Full results here – Current Order of Merit following completion of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open.
