Lottie Woad (-21) completed this Sunday the first masterpiece of her sporting life. The first of many to come. Or at least, that’s what this powerful young 21-year-old Englishwoman projects right now.
She started this Sunday with a seven-shot lead and won by six. Without suffering. Cruising speed. A round of 69 strokes. Again below 70. Four out of four. And let’s remember that the O’Meara course at the Irish Carton House is par 73. No one else has gone below 70 strokes every day. Another level.
Woad steadied her nerves, which were certainly present, with two birdies in the first four holes. Really, that’s where she closed the tournament. She sent the message that she wasn’t going to be surprised. As if she had been leading Ladies European Tour tournaments all her life. From there, she made two bogeys and two birdies until reaching the 16th hole. On that tee, it became clear what kind of player she is. After the bogey on the 15th, she responded with two consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th. That’s closing the tournament with class.
We’ll see what the Englishwoman does in the upcoming tournaments. For now, next week she plays the Evian Championship, the fourth Major of the year, and arrives in France as the LET champion. An enviable situation. Let’s not forget that last year she was already tenth in the British Open. It can’t be said that she arrives as a favourite, it would be almost daring, but she can certainly be included in the pack of contenders.
Woad won with a six-shot lead over Madelene Sagstrom (-15), seven over Australian Amelia Garvey (-14), and nine! over Charley Hull (-12). Fifth place finished eleven shots behind. Incredible. It’s playing a different game. Precisely in that fifth place finished Fátima Fernández Cano (-10). The Galician gave herself a treat. She signed for 66 strokes, seven under par, the lowest round of the day in Ireland. Sensational. Fátima’s feast included five birdies and two eagles. By the way, those two eagles came in a stretch of five holes. She played very well from tee to green, but what worked best this Sunday was the putt. She only needed 26 in 18 holes.
Fátima reaches this fifth position after missing eight consecutive cuts on the LPGA Tour, nine if we also count the pairs tournament (Dow Championship). She needed such a change in dynamics. It’s her best tournament of the year. A turning point.
As for the rest of the Spanish players, Blanca Fernández (-5) was one hole away from signing an outstanding week. A shame about the triple bogey on the 18th to say goodbye to Ireland. A too cruel end for a tournament in which she has amply demonstrated that she has a place among the best in the world. This final triple bogey meant she went from finishing just outside the top 10 to ending in 24th place.
Further back finished Teresa Toscano (+1), María Hernández (+5), and Amaia Latorre (+8).
