25 Jan 2022 | Professional golf |
Davidson wins inaugural Drummond Golf Melbourne International
by Contributor
Queensland's Karis Davidson has taken out the inaugural Drummond Golf Melbourne International at Latrobe Golf Club today, fittingly finishing with a final-hole birdie for a two shot victory.
Davidson had started the day tied for the lead with Breanna Gill, and it was the New South Welsh woman who was quickly out of the blocks with a birdie at the opening hole to take a one-shot lead.
Gill continued her solid play over the opening nine and at the halfway mark of the round held a slender one-shot lead over Davidson as the chasing pack started to edge closer. Davidson's patience was being tested to the max after opening her round with nine straight pars, and she finally broke the drought with a birdie of her own at the par 4 10th hole, while Gill bounced back to break the deadlock with her 3rd birdie of the day at the par 5 12th hole.
However, the scores were tied at the top again when the 41-year-old Gill made an untimely bogey at the par-4 15th hole.
The turning point of the day then came at the par 5 16th hole, when Davidson made birdie to hit the front for the first time, and the 24-year-old showed her class finishing with another birdie in front of the crowd on 18 to secure her first victory on the WPGA Tour of Australasia. Davidson collected $7,500 for the win and was quick to thank the team at Latrobe Golf Club, "I have to say a huge thank you to everyone here at Latrobe Golf Club for putting on such an amazing event the past few days. The course was absolutely fantastic and I know all the girls have really enjoyed our stay here. "This is a great boost to me so early in the year, I had a solid week last week at the WPGA Championship last week and to get a win under my belt here at Latrobe is amazing. Davidson, who will head off to the USA in mid-March for her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, said she has been working hard on her putting the past few weeks and that is starting to pay off. "I have been working really hard with my team and I just wanted to thank them for all the work they have put in. This win is for them as much as me and I am so grateful to have such a great group of people supporting me"
Breanna Gill finished alone in second place earning herself a cheque for $4500, while Coffs Harbour rookie Amelia Mehmet Grohn and Englishwoman Charlotte Thomas finished in a tie for third place each earning $3250.
The WPGA Tour now heads to Rosebud Country Club for the first Webex Players Series event of 2022, The Players Series Victoria hosted by Geoff Ogilvy.
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