Frances Bondad ties for second in the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open
Australian Frances Bondad finished runner-up at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland on a glorious final day at Archerfield Links in East Lothian.
| Frances Bondad |
The New South Wales player fired a final round of 67 to end just one shot behind Scottish teenager Carly Booth, 19, who earned her maiden win on the Ladies European Tour. A winner on the Ladies European Tour late last year at the Sanya Ladies Open in China, Bondad had a flawless final round containing five birdies at the first, fifth, sixth, eighth and 12th holes.
She said: “ Really pleased with the way I played. I’m not disappointed at all, Carly is a good friend of mine, so really happy for her.”
“I hit a lot of greens this week so that was probably the best part of my game. I left a lot of putts out there but I shot five under, I hit every single green apart from the last three greens today. I missed the last three greens so I think just a little bit of nerves. My putting, I held it together, so I’m really happy with that.”
“ I’ve worked hard in the off season preparing to try and get on the LPGA this year so hopefully a good year.”
Booth, from Comrie in Perthshire, fired rounds of 70, 71 and 71 to end on a total of four-under-par 212, having played through near-freezing conditions earlier in the week. It was then Booth’s to lose when she lead by one with two to play. She made a great save at the 17th before making par from out of a bunker short of the green at the last.
“It was only about two feet and I only just got it in the hole. I must have just felt the nerves there. I was fine all the way up until that putt, put it that way. I just didn’t feel anything until I holed that putt because I realised, ‘This is it!’ said Booth afterwards.
“It stopped at least for a second and I thought it was going to come up short. It was like the longest two foot putt I’ve ever had to hole,” Booth said.
It was a very good very for the Australian contingent with four players in the top 15. Victorian Stacey Keating carded final round of 69 to finish just one back from Bondad and tied for fourth position, her best result on the Ladies European Tour since turning pro. In her rookie year, 2011, Keating posted six top 10 finishes.
Karen Lunn, who has already tasted victory in 2012 in Europe, finished in share of 15th position at two-over par, with fellow compatriot Sarah Kemp.
The players will now head south-east for the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, in Belek, Antalaya.
