Bedfordshire’s Luca Thompson added her name to the illustrious honours board of the Hampshire Rose after two birdies in the last three holes secured an impressive two-stroke victory at North Hants Golf Club.
The 19-year-old from Pavenham Park GC joins an impressive cast of former champions, including Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, after finishing ahead of Ella Butteriss (Beaconsfield GC) and Danielle Hardwick (Perranporth).
The tournament was back after a two-year absence due to the covid pandemic, and following a short early frost delay, the Hampshire Rose got under way on a cold, but sunny day.
Thompson set the early pace with a morning round of three-under-par 70 and was tied for the lead coming down the stretch, edging ahead again with a birdie on the 16th and sealing victory with two towering shots to the heart of the 18th green to set up a closing birdie four.
“This is the first big event I have won and feels amazing,” said Thompson, who is the daughter of PGA Professional Zac Thompson. “The greenkeepers did a great job and it is such a lovely course. I played here in the Rose Ladies Series last year and I was pleased how I managed to put myself in the right places today and had a lot of good lag putts which was key to scoring. It’s a great start to the season.”
Thompson will be now targeting The Gold Rose Trophy, donated by Justin Rose, for best combined 72-hole score with next week’s Roehampton Gold Cup.
Focus at North Hants now shifts to the 64th playing of the Hampshire Hog taking place next Sunday as an elite field of male amateurs look to add their name to a list of winners that includes Ryder Cup players, Major Champions and Justin Rose himself, who won the Hampshire Hog as a 14year old back in 1995.