America’s Stacy Lewis captured the Ladies Scottish Open with a birdie on the first hole of a four-way play-off, after compatriot Cheyenne Knight, Spain’s Azahara Muñoz and Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen tied at 5-under-par after 72 holes of tense action at the Rennaisance Club in East Lothian.
Victory for Lewis ended a losing run that stretched back to 2017, and also brought the 35-year-old her first win in Europe outside of the majors.
In what was also her first win as a mother, Lewis admitted to singing her daughter Chesnee’s favourite song throughout the day, with her very own rendition of Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake it off’ proving to be one of her most important thoughts before calmly holing from 24ft for victory on the first play-off hole.
“I hit a good approach shot into 18 in regulation and the shot in the play-off was exactly ten yards further, so it was 8-iron, same shot and fortunately I got it started more left this time and I got it on the top shelf. My caddy, Travis, and I had been reading putts together all day and I had the line there. It was five inches outside left. I knew I needed to get it there with enough speed and finally, after the whole back nine, I got one to go in and that was all I needed.”
In a true links battle, the lead changed hands on multiple occasions throughout an exciting day, with as many as five players leading at one stage during the round. Lewis assumed an advantage early with birdies on the second and third holes, only for Jennifer Song to take the initiative by heading out in 34 strokes. Muñoz meanwhile, fell away with a bogey at the 1st and double-bogey at the 6th, before re-igniting her challenge on the back-nine with a gutsy display which included a few sublime bunker shots and slick putts to post a back-nine of 33 to force her way in the play-off.
Despite her obvious disappointment, Munoz was still smiling at the end, commenting: “I’m proud of myself. Obviously it was a tough day and I didn’t have a good start. I got pretty unlucky on six. I got a plugged lie in the bunker, so I had to take an unplayable. But I fought really hard and I made some really nice putts coming in and sometimes that’s all you can do.”
Pedersen, who moves to the top of the the LET rankings with her second place finish, has been consistent all week and of the four players to make the playoff, returned the lowest round, a three-under par 68. Paired with Danielle Kang.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen missed out on the playoff by a single stroke, but finished the tournament in style with a ‘round of the week’ 65. She was joined in fifth place by American Danielle Kang, who narrowly missed out on the chance for a third consecutive tournament victory after a final round 69.
The tournament marked the Ladies European Tour return to action since the hiatus caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Next week sees the tour host the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon.