England’s Alice Hewson made four birdies in eight holes on the back nine of the MCB Ladies Classic’s final round but her late charge was in vain as Smilla Soenderby claimed the title at Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius.
The 28-year-old’s back nine of 32 gave her a closing 67 and got her to 10 under par for the Ladies European Tour (LET) event – but the two final groups held their nerve and it was Soenderby who claimed the title.
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The Dane birdied the 18th to thrillingly claim the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic by one stroke from Kajsa Arwefjall and Casandra Alexander.
Soenderby, 25, began her final round poorly, dropping a shot at the par-5 4th – but bounced back with an eagle three at another par 5 two holes later and picked up a further stroke at the 9th.
She birdied 10, 13 and 15 but gave one back to the field at 14 before making the decisive birdie on the risk-reward par-5 18th to card a 67 that got her to 14 under and ended Arwefjall and Alexander’s hopes of a play-off.
“Thank you to my mum who has been with me as my caddy this week. It has been so special and we will remember it forever,” said Soenderby, whose previous win on the LET was the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
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“It has been an amazing event and I hope we come back here! I really enjoyed the Legend course and I’m so happy with this win.”
Sweden’s Arwefjall made six birdies and avoided any dropped shots in her closing 66, which set a stiff clubhouse target of 13 under.
Alexander then eagled the last to match Arwefjall – an aptly thrilling end to a rollercoaster round of 67 by the South Africa that also included six birdies but also a double bogey and two bogeys.
Hewson, from Hertfordshire, dropped a shot at the 5th but also made two other birdies on the front nine as she finished in a five-way tie for fifth.
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The two-time Curtis Cup player – who has three LET wins in her career, including two in Switzerland – was part of a strong English showing in Mauritius.
Soenderby claimed the first women’s professional event to be held in Mauritius [Getty Images]
Lianna Bailey earned herself a share of 12th with consistent rounds of 70, 69 and 70 while her fellow English player Ellen Hume was a shot back.
Another Englishwoman, the in-form Esme Hamilton, shot a final-round 71 for a five-under total alongside Ireland’s Anna Foster, who carded a fine closing 68.
Lily May Humphreys finished with a second successive level-par 72 for a four-under tournament total, while Jess Baker got to two under with her best round of the week, a 69.
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Anna Zanusso of Italy made four consecutive birdies on the front nine in an outward half of 32 then came back in a blistering 31 shots to set a new ladies’ course record of 63 on the Legend course at Belle Mare Plage to finish fourth.
Agathe Laisne of France, who had opened the tournament with a majestic course-record 64 and is chasing a Solheim Cup debut in September, closed with a 69 for a share of fifth.
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