After 14 years on the Ladies European Tour, and following a dramatic finale at Royal Beroun Golf Club, Finland’s Noora Komulainen can finally call herself a winner on the circuit thanks to an emotional playoff victory at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open.
Related: Lisa Pettersson, Charlotte Heath tied for lead in sweltering Beroun
One back before the start of play, the 35-year-old birdied her final four holes in Beroun to fire a 66 (-6) matching Justice Bosio’s target of 18-under par and catching her playing partner Lisa Pettersson on the same number.
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With nothing to separate the trio through 54 holes, it was back up to the tee at the par-5 18th. All three would layup on the closing hole creating a pitch off in the Czech Republic.
Komulainen hit the best shot of the three dialling a wedge into six-feet. After her opponents missed their birdie efforts in front of the gallery, the Olympian was able to roll in the birdie for her long-awaited first victory on the LET.
Emotional scenes followed on the 18th green as Komulainen and husband Roope were greeted by their five-year-old daughter Elli who had made the trip to Czechia.
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“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.
“I was playing with Lisa [Pettersson] and obviously she was playing incredible golf. I was playing really solid as well but I just couldn’t hole putts on the front nine. Then something just clicked on the back nine. I holed the putts coming in which was great!
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“We will definitely celebrate tonight and then after next week when I go home, I’m making sure that we’ll have a big party at home with my family and friends!”
The Finnish star, a two-time Olympian, was making her 199th start this week at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open having joined the LET back in 2013. She was also joined on the 18th green by compatriots Sanna Nuutinen and Ursula Wikstrom.
“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!”
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Komulainen’s victory came on a dramatic, birdie bonanza of a Sunday at Royal Beroun Golf Club as several LET stars fired the best rounds of their professional careers on the circuit.
Bosio, the Australian competing in her first full season on the LET, fired a 64 (-8) to get into the playoff and eventually record her best result to date. Despite the sudden-death heartache, Bosio was extremely pleased with her week in the Czech Republic.
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“Last week was my highest finish on the LET which I was very happy about and then this week was even better,” the Australian said. “This week I felt I was playing well and this course is very scoreable. I went on a little run today, four birdies in a row on the front nine. I was six-under through 10 holes. I had a feeling I was quite close but didn’t know exactly where I was at. 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.”
In solo fourth on 17-under par finished Italy’s Anna Zanusso who continued her fantastic form on the LET. In solo fifth was Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea’s who celebrated her birthday this week as well as her nation advancing in the FIFA World Cup. Darquea fired a career-low 63 (-9) on Sunday to soar up the leaderboard and cement another top-five finish.
