A dramatic final day at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France ended with Chiara Tamburlini being able to call herself a two-time Ladies European Tour winner following a play-off victory over Kirsten Rudgeley.
With the pair locked at seven-under-par it was back to the 18th hole at Golf Barriere where the Swiss rookie produced an excellent birdie after her Australian opponent’s effort came up short.
The victory is Tamburlini’s second of 2024 after she dominated in South Africa earlier in the season to claim the Joburg Ladies Open.
“It was way too stressful!” she said afterwards. “Kirsten played so well today, especially on the back nine, she really lit it up and it was tough for me to keep up. The birdie on 17 in regular play was huge to keep up with her. And then the birdie on the playoff hole was incredible. I can’t really believe it right now. It all went so fast!”
Tamburlini started the day one shot clear of recent winner Annabel Dimmock, with Rudgeley four shots behind in Deauville. A nervy start saw the Swiss star drop three shots on the front nine.
Three birdies in a row from the 8th moved Tamburlini two clear before Rudgeley got her game going on the back nine, making birdies on 11, 12, 15 and 16 to move into the lead.
Then, the shot of a champion. Tamburlini stiffing her approach on the par-3 17th to tie things up and force a play-off with an even par round of 71.
Magical approach
After splitting the fairway at the first extra hole, Tamburlini produced more magic when almost holing her approach as it spun back to seven feet. Rudgeley did well to hit the green after pulling her drive left, but with the birdie effort coming up short, Tamburlini was able to hole her putt for victory.
“It was a rollercoaster day,” she continued. “I did not have my A-game. Especially at the beginning. I couldn’t make a putt but I just kept telling myself it’s not over until 18. It all worked out in the end.”
Belgium’s Manon de Roey took third, a shot behind the leaders, with a closing 66, while Dimmock closed with a one-over 72 to finish in a tie for fourth alongside Noora Komulainen and Virginia Elena Carta.
For all the scores from the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, click here.
