Colombian Maria Jose Uribe Duran held on to win by one shot from England’s Bronte in a thrilling final-round battle royale in the Women’s NSW Open Golf Championship at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club.
Uribe, the overnight leader, could not take a break in her opening nine holes; a couple of errant approach shots and a misbehaving putter did not help her cause.
Law, playing alongside the Uribe, wasted no time reining in the leader, with three birdies in the first five holes. The pair could not be separated at the turn, and Law struck first with birdies on the 11th and 12th to establish a two-shot buffer early on the run home.
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Uribe, however, muscled her way back into the contest with a birdie on the 14th to regain the lead. The pair briefly found themselves at the top of the leaderboard on the 15th before Uribe buried a crucial birdie on the par-three 16th.
Law was not done, however, and a birdie on the penultimate hole from the Englishwoman meant the scene was set for a final hole thriller.
Of course, the Colombian did not disappoint, rifling a wedge into about two metres. After Law missed her birdie, it was all but academic for the new Women’s Open Champion, converting her birdie with an elated fist pump.
“I’m happy, really happy,” Uribe beamed after the win. “I said in my head that 15 under was the number this week, so that’s what I went out to do,”
“I thought it was going to be a shootout of birdies. I struggled today with my putting but I knew the birdies were out there.
“I know Bronte (Law) well; she’s a close friend, and I said to myself, I’m going to play good, and if I lose, then I’m OK with that.”
The win was Uribe’s first since 2011, with the 14-year LPGA veteran already calling this year her last on tour. Her final goal, however, was to make the Olympics, and with victory here, she believes she’s all but assured herself a plane ticket to Paris.
“I’m pretty sure, come Monday, this will clinch it, and I should be in Paris for now. My husband will be happy because I don’t have to do a crazy schedule anymore.”
Spain’s Marta Martin finished in third at nine under par after closing with a 70, while England’s Cara Gainer closed with a 69 to tie for fourth alongside a disappointed Peiying Tsai at minus eight.
Queensland Amateur Justice Bosio kept herself within sight of the leaders for much of the day and, at one point, drew within two shots of the lead after holing a 50-foot monster on the 11th for a well-earned birdie. However, it was as close as she would get; bogies on the 12th, 15th and 16th ending the 20-year-old’s quest for a first WPGA & LET title.
Defending Champion, New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori closed with a final round 69 to tie for 8th place at six under par.
