Lee-Anne Pace closed with a three-under-par 70 on Saturday to finish in a share of 17th in the Ladies European Tour’s 54-hole Aramco Team Series-London at Centurion Club.
After an opening one-under 72 and a second round of four-over 77, Pace finished the tournament on level-par. That was eight strokes behind the winner, Leona Maguire, who became the first Irishwoman to win on the Ladies European Tour (LET) after sinking her eagle putt on the final hole.
Maguire moved to eight-under, which put her one shot clear of Spain’s Maria Hernandez. Maguire’s countrywoman Lauren Walsh shared third with American Alison Lee and England’s Georgia Hall on six-under-par.
Nicole Garcia finished one stroke behind Pace on one-over for the week after her closing two-under 71 put her in a share of 20th. Casandra Alexander was in a share of 36th after her closing level-par 73 took her to four-over for the tournament.
The Solheim Cup star Maguire led from the first day in the individual competition after rounds of 66 (-7) and 72 (-1).
It was an up-and-down day for the Irishwoman who made the turn in two-over par, and she was level on the back nine heading into 18 knowing she needed to make an eagle to secure victory.
Maguire hit an excellent second shot to leave herself with an eagle chance and she duly rolled in the putt to make history on the LET and win with a total of eight-under-par.
“I did it the hard way today, I feel like,” said Maguire. “It was tough out there; I didn’t play my best golf but Dermot my caddie just kept saying be patient.
“He said right before that shot into 18, let’s hit shot of the year here. It was a perfect number, and my trusty hybrids came in useful once again.
“I knew Alison [Lee] was making a run, I thought I would have to get to 10-under-par – that was the number I had in my head.
“I just hung in even when things weren’t going right and waited for a turn, and it was nice to finish in style on 18. I’m looking forward to the summer ahead and couldn’t ask for a better start.
“I was just trying to hit a good putt! It was a little bit like a Solheim Cup, I knew no Irishwoman had ever won on the LET before. That putt was for me, that putt was for my family and that putt was for Ireland. It was a proud moment.”
