Nobuhle Dlamini closed the Ladies European Tour’s Saudi Ladies International on Sunday with a one-under-par 70 to finish on four-under for the tournament in a share of 22nd.
Dlamini made four birdies and three bogeys as she ended up 19 strokes behind the runaway winner, Lydia Ko of New Zealand. The former world number one concluded her record-breaking week with a seven-under-par 65 to move to 23-under for the tournament. That gave Ko a five-stroke margin over runner-up Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand.
“When I was out there, I was just trying to play the best golf that I can. I knew a lot of the top names were playing really well and this is a golf course where there’s a fair amount of birdies, so I was just trying to have my fair share of them and have fun out there,” said Ko.
“It helps when you’re going into the final round with a four-shot cushion, you could shoot the same score as others, but you have those shots from the last three days.
“I birdied the first hole and holed two really good putts for par on two and three which really set the momentum up, and from there I tried not to look back and just go forward.”
Like Dlamini, Lee-Anne Pace also closed with a 71, and, at one-under for the tournament, she was in a share of 35th on one-under. Lejan Lewthwaite carded a closing two-under 70, and, at level-par, was in a share of 40th. Nicole Garcia had a final one-over 73 to share 46th on two-over.
