Saturday 5 November 2016 16:38, UK
Beth Allen produced an outstanding finish to claim her second Ladies European Tour title in as many months with a three-shot victory at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.
Allen trailed Georgia Hall by two shots with just five holes remaining at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, but as the English youngster faltered down the stretch, Allen reeled off three consecutive birdies to take control.
The American parred the last to match the course record of 64 and post a winning score of 21-under par, and the victory also took her 50,000 euros ahead of Shanshan Feng at the top of the LET Order of Merit.
Allen was two behind Hall heading into the final round, but she soon pulled level with birdies at the second and fourth before Hall edged back in front at the next.
The leading pair traded birdies at eight and nine, but Allen claimed the lead with another at the 10th and stayed in front when she matched Hall's birdie at the 11th - Allen's fourth gain in a row.
However, the tournament swung back in Hall's favour when she birdied the 13th as Allen bogeyed, although the 20-year-old then dropped her first shot of the day at the next.
Allen then seized her chance and reeled off three consecutive birdies from the 15th, while Hall dropped another stroke at the 16th to slip three strokes adrift.
The Californian calmly parred the last to complete back-to-back LET victories following her recent win at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, and she is now in pole position to win the Order of Merit for the first time with three events remaining.
"This is really special," said Allen, who now has two wins and five further top-10 finishes from 14 starts this season. "It's so amazing to win an event that's taking place for the first time, especially in a place like this that is supporting women in sports.
"I'm just really happy that I got it done. Obviously I've been playing really well and when I got done on Friday I felt really good and I knew I could do it, so I just tried to make as many birdies as I could today and turns out I made nine! I'm so pleased.
"I really want to win the Order of Merit and I certainly think this helped. This course is fantastic and we've been treated so well. I was feeling really relaxed and having such a great week. It really helped me play well. I'll certainly be coming back over and over and over."
Solheim Cup star Melissa Reid surged into contention with three birdies in four holes on the back nine, but she finished with three pars and a bogey at the 17th to post a 68 which left her in a share of second with Australian Sarah Kemp.
