Meghan MacLaren celebrates first LET title in NSW Open
Monday 5 March 2018 17:13, UK
Meghan MacLaren celebrated her maiden Ladies European Tour title as she clinched a two-shot win at the women's New South Wales Open.
MacLaren coped well with the hot and humid conditions at Coffs Harbour as she fired a level-par 71 on the final day to hold off LET rookies Casey Danielson and Marita Engzelius, and Spaniard Silvia Banon.
The 23-year-old English star also gave credit to her father, Staysure Tour CEO David MacLaren, who flew to Australia to caddie for his daughter over the weekend.
MacLaren led by two overnight and extended her advantage with two birdies over the first three holes, and she took a four-stroke lead into the back nine before opening the door to the chasing pack with a bogey at 13.
She dropped another shot at the long 17th, but MacLaren held her nerve to make a composed par at the last to cap her first win in just her 11th start on tour.
"It feels incredible. I didn't think those words would be coming out of my mouth so soon," said MacLaren, who won twice on the LET Access Series last season.
"All parts of my game were good. To go out there today and to still feel in control of my ball striking and all of that, it gave me a little bit of margin for error towards the end.
"I played well in the few events that I played last year, but you've got to be patient. It can take some players years before they get over the line. To do it now gives me a lot of confidence.
"I struggled a little bit out here in Australia and had a few ups and downs with my game, but you only have to look at the pictures back home in England to know that that's not the place to be. The course set-up every single week over the last few weeks has been fantastic. Both the LET and the ALPG have done a fantastic job."
MacLaren also paid tribute to her father for his skills as a caddie, adding: "He did incredibly. I'm sure he was unbelievably nervous deep down, but he did a great job of not showing that."
The Ladies European Tour now heads to South Africa for the Investec South African Open in Cape Town.
