BARCELONA-based French golfer Marie-Laure de Lorenzi rolled back the
years when she fashioned a sixteenth European victory in the American
Express Costa Azul Open in Portugal.
A closing round of 66 in which she never exceeded par to equal the
course record at Montado left de Lorenzi with an 11-under-par total of
205, two ahead of Switzerland's Evelyn Orley.
In 1988, de Lorenzi established a Tour record with seven victories.
''I was more aggressive and holed a lot of putts then, but I believe
that I am now more experienced and hitting the ball much better,'' she
said.
Lora Fairclough, second last year, was the leading British player
sharing fifth place on 213 with Scotland's Kathryn Marshall four strokes
behind leading the Tartan challenge.
Orley, chasing a first win since 1990, made a brave attempt to catch
de Lorenzi. She gathered four birdies and holed in one at the 139-yard
eleventh hole in a final round of 67, but it was not enough.
De Lorenzi threw down the gauntlet with four birdies in an outward 32.
A putt of 18 feet earned a 2 at the short eleventh before striking a
No.2 iron shot on to the green for a birdie 4 at the long sixteenth.
Marshall's undoing was a second round of 76 following an opening 69.
In the closing round the Monifieth golfer could muster only two birdies
in her 72. Leading scores (British or Irish unless stated):
205 -- M-L de Lorenzi (France) 72, 67, 66 (#8250).
207 -- E Orley (Switzerland) 68, 72, 67 (#5580).
208 -- C Dibnah (Australia) 67, 72, 69 (#3850).
212 -- K Webb (Australia) 67, 76, 69.
213 -- L Fairclough 73, 67, 73; V Michaud (France) 69, 69, 75.
Scottish scores: 217 -- K Marshall 69, 76, 72. 219 -- D Reid 75, 73,
71. 223 -- G Stewart 74, 77, 72. 225 -- T Craik 74, 77, 74; L Irvine 76,
74, 75.
* KELLY Robbins overcame miserable weather and a three-shot deficit
over the final seven holes yesterday in Wilmington, Delaware, to win the
LPGA Championship by one shot from holder Laura Davies of Britain.
The American won her third career tournament and first major with a
three-under-par 68, victory coming with a two-foot par putt at the last
to finish at 10-under 274 and win the $180,000 top prize.
Davies shot a 70 -- 15 pars, one bogey, and two birdies but had to
settle for the $111,711 second-place purse.
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