Finland’s Kaisa Ruuttila claimed a victory in only her second tournament as a professional and while on a short holiday away from her studies when she won the WPGA Masters at Waterkloof Golf Club on Friday.
The 23-year-old Ruuttila produced a final round of 69 to win on seven under par and three strokes clear of Julie Tvede.
Ruuttila started the final round two behind overnight leader Tvede, but worked her way into a three-stroke lead with four holes to come.
But a three-putt for bogey on the short 15th and Tvede’s birdie there saw her suddenly fighting to protect a one-stroke lead.
She missed a three-footer for birdie on the 16th, but then finished strong with birdies at holes 17 and 18 to take the title.
“I am very happy to have won so early in my career,” said Ruuttila, who only turned professional last November.”
She attended the Ladies European Tour’s Qualifying School and finished 29th, just outside the top 28 who gain full playing privileges on the Tour, though qualifying for a certain number of tournaments.
“I am going back to Finland now to resume my studies as a sports instructor, and then I’m hoping to join the Ladies European Tour in May where I should get quite a few starts,” said Ruuttila.
Tvede finished second on her own at four under with a closing 74.
Lee-Anne Pace bogeyed the last but still finished as the leading South African professional on one under with a closing 73.
Amateurs Kelli Shean and Ashleigh Simon also finished at one under with respective rounds of 72 and 71. Stacy Bregman closed with a 74 to finish tied 17th on two over par.
WPGA Masters Tournament Results:
Waterkloof Golf Club (Par 72)
209 Kaisa Ruuttila (Fin) 71 69 69
212 Julie Tvede (Den) 71 67 74
215 Ashleigh Simon * 71 73 71, Kelli Shean * 72 71 72, Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin) 72 72 71, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 72 71 72, Lee-Anne Pace 72 70 73
216 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 72 74 70, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 71 75 70, Morgana Robbertze 71 71 74, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 73 70 73, Lisa Jean (Aus) 75 72 69
217 Sophie Walker (Eng) 72 71 74, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 70 76, Michelle de Vries 74 73 70, Nora Angehrn (Swi) 72 74 71
218 Florence Luscher (Swi) 76 70 72, Stacy Bregman 70 74 74
219 Laurette Maritz 75 73 71
220 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 75 74 71
221 Emelie Svenningsson (Swe) 74 76 71, Maria Ohlsson (Swe) 71 74 76, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 75 73 73, Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 77 75 69
222 Natou Soro (Cdi) 72 75 75, Jo Clingan (Eng) 74 74 74, Maria Boden (Swe) 75 75 72, Anna Becker (Swe) 73 76 73
223 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi) 80 72 71
224 Lena Tornevall (Swe) 70 79 75, Mercia Pretorius * 75 74 75, Angie Green (Can) 76 76 72, Martina Gillen (Ire) 75 70 79
225 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 75 78 72
226 Suzette Venter 76 73 77, Frederique Dorbes (Fra) 77 74 75
227 Leandri Pieterse 75 79 73, Santie Koch 79 75 73, Madeleine Holmblad (Swe) 75 78 74
228 Hanna-Sophia Svenningsson (Swe) 78 76 74, Viva Schlasberg (Swe) 75 78 75, Monja Richards 78 77 73, Zuzana Kamasova (Svk) 80 72 76, Sohvi Harkonen (Fin) 77 75 76, Claire Coughlan (Ire) 77 76 75
229 Lill Kristin Saether (Nor) 78 75 76, Mandy Adamson 76 75 78
230 Lumien Lausberg 71 81 78, Felicity Johnson (Eng) 79 72 79, Sarah Heath (Eng) 79 76 75
231 Shelley Mckevitt (Eng) 74 81 76, Jehanne Jail (Fra) 78 77 76, Andrea Hirschhorn 74 79 78, Elin Brask (Swe) 78 75 78, Julie Berton (Fra) 77 76 78
232 Zelda Smook * 75 81 76
233 Crizelda van Niekerk 74 81 78
236 Vanessa Bell (Eng) 77 79 80
237 Anne-Sophie Le Nalio (Fra) 80 76 81, Nicole Becker * 76 80 81
239 Henriette Frylinck * 77 79 83
South African unless otherwise denoted
(*) denotes amateur
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