Walker wins LET play-off

Scotland’s Kylie Walker survived a final round charge by Charley Hull of England to win the Ladies German Open presented by Marriott.

Walker won with a par on the first extra hole at Golfclub Wörthsee, two months after earning her first Ladies European Tour title in similar fashion, in a play-off at the Deloitte Ladies Open in Holland.

The 27-year-old Glaswegian began the final round with a six stroke lead, but Hull fired a final round 65 to join her on a 72-hole total of 25-under-par.

Hull applied pressure from the beginning, opening with three straight birdies, and she narrowed Walker’s advantage to one stroke with a fourth birdie on the eighth hole. An up and down for birdie from the bunker short and left of the ninth green saw Walker make the turn in level par 36 and she took a two stroke lead into the back nine.

Hull then birdied 12, but then Walker pulled two clear with a birdie on 13. Walker bogeyed 14 and both players birdied 15, before Hull eventually drew level by making a five footer for birdie on the 17th green.

Both players missed birdie chances on the last hole and returned to the 18th tee in a heavy shower. In the play-off, Hull hit her drive into trees and had to chip out. She then hit her third shot to within five feet of the flag but missed her par putt, whereas Walker was on the green for two and took a par.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking. Charley played brilliantly today because it was slightly tougher conditions as well. I wasn’t quite playing as well as I have done the rest of the week but I’m delighted to have hung in there today and get the win,” said Walker, who added a final round 71 to her three opening 64s. “I was hoping not for a play-off, I was trying to win it in regulation play but it didn’t happen and Charley made a great birdie on 17 to tie for the lead. I was delighted in the play-off that I made a solid par and managed to get it. I’m delighted. I’m just living the dream at the moment. I’m really happy and enjoying my golf.”

Hull took the disappointment on the chin and said: “I just blocked my tee shot on the last which was annoying but I hit a good shot in and a good putt. I’m quite happy. It’s been a long three weeks and I’m a bit tired now because I’ve been in contention all three weeks and especially with a major in the middle of it. To finish it off with a second place is not too bad.

“I’m looking forward to my next competitions after I have a week or so off because I feel like my game is in really good condition. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. It’s a shame because in regulation play on 18 I hit my drive 305 yards, so it’s a shame for me to push it a little bit in my play-off hole.”

The 2013 German Open champion Carlota Ciganda fired a tournament low round 63 to end in solo third place on 23-under-par. Her round included eight birdies, a bogey on the par-5 sixth and an eagle on the par-5 12th hole.

Ciganda said: “I’ve been playing really good the whole day. I starting hitting great shots and not making putts but I tried to stay patient and I made an eagle on 12 and then on 14 I hit the hole and the ball ended 10 metres away. Then I finished with two birdies in the last four so I’m very happy with that. It’s really nice to play once in a while in Europe because you come from the States and the courses here are a bit easier, shorter, and the confidence goes up. I’m really happy with the way I played this week. I love Europe and everything I can do to support I’ll always do.”

German star Sandra Gal recorded a final round 68 after she was given a two stroke penalty for grounding her club in the 12th bunker as she tried to balance just outside it. She ended in a share of fourth place on 18-under with China’s Yu Yang Zhang, Gwladys Nocera from France and Welsh rookie Amy Boulden, who recorded her career best finish on the tour.

Collated Final Scores:

Kylie Walker won with a par 4 on the first play-off hole

263 - Kylie Walker (SCO)  64 64 64 71, Charley Hull (ENG)  64 70 64 65

265 - Carlota Ciganda (ESP)  65 70 67 63

270 - Yu Yang Zhang (CHN)  64 67 67 72, Amy Boulden (WAL)  68 68 65 69, Sandra Gal (GER)  69 67 66 68, Gwladys Nocera (FRA)  69 70 66 65

271 - Celine Herbin (FRA)  67 68 65 71

272 - Sally Watson (SCO)  70 66 69 67, Klara Spilkova (CZE)  67 68 68 69

273 - Liz Young (ENG)  70 65 68 70, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)  65 69 66 73, Sophie Giquel-bettan (FRA)  72 70 64 67

274 - Linda Wessberg (SWE)  70 65 68 71, Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED)  68 64 72 70

275 - Nikki Campbell (AUS)  70 70 66 69, Sophia Popov (GER)  68 67 70 70, Diana Luna (ITA)  68 70 65 72

276 - Valentine Derrey (FRA)  69 71 68 68, Alexandra Vilatte (FRA)  72 65 69 70, Rebecca Hudson (ENG)  70 67 70 69

277 - Nontaya Srisawang (THA)  72 69 66 70, Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP)  72 69 69 67, Noora Tamminen (FIN)  72 67 69 69

278 - Jia Yun Li (CHN)  70 67 69 72, Nikki Garrett (AUS)  70 70 70 68, Nina Muehl (AUT)  70 68 69 71

279 - Hannah Burke (ENG)  71 71 68 69, Beth Allen (USA)  66 73 69 71, Sahra Hassan (WAL)  72 70 68 69, Sophie Walker (ENG)  70 73 69 67, Julie Greciet (FRA)  70 72 72 65, Florentyna Parker (ENG)  70 71 71 67

280 - Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN)  68 70 69 73, Holly Clyburn (ENG)  69 68 72 71

281 - Rebecca Artis (AUS)  66 70 74 71, Isabelle Boineau (FRA)  71 71 68 71, Kim Williams (RSA)  72 68 67 74, Charlotte Thompson (ENG)  68 73 73 67, Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA)  70 70 73 68

282 - Ariya Jutanugarn (THA)  68 69 74 71

283 - Sharmila Nicollet (IND)  70 72 72 69, Hannah Ralph (ENG)  69 69 73 72, Cheyenne Woods (USA)  71 72 70 70, Louise Larsson (SWE)  69 73 67 74

284 - Vikki Laing (SCO)  68 69 76 71, Nina Holleder (GER)  70 72 70 72, Cassandra Kirkland (FRA)  72 70 68 74

285 - Caroline Afonso (FRA)  75 68 69 73, Steffi Kirchmayr (GER)  70 71 70 74, Cathryn Bristow (NZL)  72 70 72 71, Jade Schaeffer (FRA)  70 70 72 73

286 - Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)  69 72 72 73, Alison Whitaker (AUS)  68 74 72 72

287 - Emma Cabrera-bello (ESP)  67 73 76 71, Lucie Andre (FRA)  69 71 74 73, Laura Jansone (LVA)  69 74 75 69

288 - Nicole Garcia (RSA)  68 72 72 76, Tania Elosegui (ESP)  71 70 73 74

289 - Mallory Fraiche (USA)  71 71 73 74

291 - Karolin Lampert (GER)  71 72 72 76

292 - Stefania Croce (ITA)  73 70 73 76, Margherita Rigon (ITA)  72 70 78 72

293 - Miriam Nagl (GER)  73 70 74 76