Frances Bondad posts maiden victory at Sanya Ladies Open on Ladies European Tour
As if Australian Frances Bondad’s performance wasn’t enough to help her secure her maiden tour title, Scotland’s Vikki Laing, helped her immensely when she stumbled on a bogey on the 18th in the final round of Sanya Ladies Open at the warm and
breezy Yalong Bay Golf Club, Hainan, China. Pulling in strong rounds of 68 and 70 on the previous days, Bondad carded a final round score of 67 to settle for an aggregate of 11-under, 205, one stroke ahead of a disappointed Laing.
“It feels unreal,” said Bondad, “It hasn’t hit me yet.”
The 23-year-old from Greystanes in New South Wales started off for her final 18-hole stretch on a humid and scorching day in Hainan’s scenic golf course and remained birdie less for the first eight holes. She pulled in a glorious eagle on the ninth, right
before making the turn. She birdied the par-four, 12th from 15 foot and carded another miraculous birdie from a whooping 180-yard. By this time Laing was well into contention birdying the 14th and was leading the event by one shot.
“I was hitting it close and I just wasn’t making any putts and when that eagle putt went in at the ninth, that kept me going, and made me think, ‘I can get up there,’ said Bondad. “On 12 I made a really good birdie putt from 15 foot. Then on 13, I had 205
metres to the pin and 186 to the front and I just went straight over the water.”
But the victory has not been an easy affair for Bondad who has been playing on the tour for the last four seasons. She described the hypnotherapy course as instrumental in her win and conceded that she has been taking the course for a considerably longer
period of time. Poised at 65th on the Henderson Money List, the young Aussie came close to picking her first victory at 2010 Open de Espana but had to settle for a joint second.
Overnight leader Pan Yan Hong, who had been contemplating a win on her home course, amidst a favourable crowd, fell for a disappointing 72 on the final day and finished joint third alongside South African Ashleigh Simon who scored 69.
Chinese 15-year-old prodigy, Lin Xiyu posted another strong finish, a joint sixth to improve her position on the Ladies European Tour (LET) money list. She is one of the promising golfers to have come out in recent times and China will be keeping a closer
look on her for the upcoming Olympics in 2016. Finland’s Minea Blomqvist, Australian Stacey Keating and Thailand’s Patcharajutar Kongkraphan also finished for joint sixth along with Lin.
Bondad not only picked her winner’s cheque of €30,000 but the officials at Yalong Bay Golf Club also named a suite in her honour as per traditions. She will have the luxury of spending one week in a year in her suite with the amenities free of cost.
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