Australian Rebecca Artis thrived in true Scottish conditions and a stunning six-under 66 overwhelmed the star names to claim the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Dundonald yesterday.
While driving rain and stronger winds over the Ayrshire course stalled the rest of the field including Suzanne Pettersen and Lydia Ko, the 26-year-old from New South Wales repeated her first Ladies European Tour win a year ago in Sweden by coming from several shots back on the final day to win, this time even overcoming a double bogey early in her round.
It was enough to sweep ahead of Ko (74) and Pettersen, who had a three-shot lead at the turn but whose attempt to match the Aussie on the last ended up in the ditch in front of the green.
The Norwegian eventually finished second by two shots after a 74, England’s Holly Clyburn in third with Artis’ winning six-under aggregate of 210 taking the £53,000 first prize.
“Every win is fantastic but beating this kind of field and chasing down the likes of Lydia and Suzanne makes this really special,” said the new champion, who won two years ago from five back, again in difficult weather, in the Helsingsborg Open in Sweden.
“My husband and caddie Geoff had his birthday yesterday and was complaining about not getting a present, so I think this might do,” she laughed.
Only one other player broke 70 on the final day Scotland’s Pamela Pretswell with a 69 that leaper her into eighth place but Artis knew she had a chance as the weather closed in.
“I normally do well in poor weather because my ball flight is one of my strengths, and I can still control it in these kind of winds,” added Rebecca. “I think the weather and how far I was behind just concentrated the mind to attack.
“The double bogey (on the short 4th) threw me a bit, but I birdied the next hole and I played really well down the back nine.”
The key to the tournament was the 16th, where Artis chipped in from 65 feet for birdie and Pettersen, coming along behind, failed to get up and down after missing the green.
“I actually played pretty well, but conditions were a lot tougher and you have to say, 66 today definitely deserves to win,” said Pettersen.
“The bogey on 16 was key, I had a good chance on 17 after two good shots and at the last I just miscalculated the wind.
“But I’m happy with my game and my form and while I’m disappointed not to win, this was great preparation for next week.”
Ko never got her challenge going but was most pleased to see proper Scottish conditions.
“This is a bit more like we expected and it was definitely good experience,” she said. “I’m still trying to adjust to links golf and these last three days have been a great help.”
Kelsey MacDonald’s 77 meant she couldn’t hang on for one of the three automatic qualifying places for next week’s RICOH Women’s British Open, but Pretswell finished strongly, an eagle at the last taking her into another top ten finish.
“I actually didn’t play much differently to the previous days, the 79 on the first day doesn’t really reflect how I played.
“This has been an ideal build up, it’s been going back to old school golf and re-learning some of the links techniques. Apart from tightening up some of my wedge play, I feel in good shape for Turnberry.
“It will be my first major as a pro. I played in the 2011 Women’s Open at Carnoustie as an amateur and missed the cut by a shot, but this is where you want to be playing. You want to see where your game is compared to the best in the world”
Leading scores
210 R Artis (Aus) 75 69 66
212 S Pettersen (Nor) 68 70 74
214 H Clyburn (Eng) 73 67 74
215 K Spilkova (Cze) 74 69 72, L Ko (NZ) 68 73 74
217 H Burke ((Eng) 72 73 72
218 B Allen (USA) 75 70 73
219 P Pretswell (Sco) 79 71 69, E K Pedersen (Den) 74 74 71, G Nocera (Fra) 73 74 72, S Keating (Aus) 74 72 73, A Boulden (Wal) 71 74 74, C Hull (Eng) 76 68 75
220 J Schaeffer (Fra) 73 76 71, C Matthew (Sco) 74 72 74, C Wolf (Ger) 70 73 77
Other scores included
221 S Watson (Sco) 74 72 75
222 K MacDonald (Sco) 70 75 77
228 C Booth (Sco) 72 76 80