Hull regroups after double-bogey at 17th to beat Liz Young on first extra hole and win £5,000 first prize at Brokenhurst Manor GC
Friday 19 June 2020 06:37, UK
Charley Hull claimed victory in the inaugural event of the Rose Ladies Series after she edged out Liz Young in a play-off.
Hull, the star draw in the 47-player field at Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club in Hampshire, birdied the first extra hole to claim the £5,000 first prize, donated by Rose and his wife Kate after they committed in the region of £40,000 in total prize funds for the series.
The Olympic champion and his wife, a former international gymnast, announced their backing earlier this month for the new series, open to British professionals and featuring seven one-day tournaments followed by a two-day final on August 6-7.
Brokenhurst Manor proved a tough opening venue as nobody in the field managed to break par, with Hull and Young finishing tied at the top after both carded hard-working level-par 70s.
However, Hull appeared to be cruising to victory in regulation as she was two under with two holes to play, but her unfamiliarity with the course proved costly on 17 as she blocked her tee shot too far right, found a ditch and ran up a double-bogey.
Hull regrouped to par the last, and the top two then split the fairway with their drives on the first play-off hole, but Young misjudged her wedge approach and finished 30 feet from the pin, with Hull facing around half that distance for her birdie.
Young putted up to six feet and was lining up a tricky putt for par, but Hull saved her the trouble as she rattled her 15-footer into the centre of the cup to claim victory.
"I'm just so happy to be playing professional golf again and have a scorecard in my hand," said Hull, whose last competitive round of golf was five months ago at the Gainbridge LPGA in Florida.
"The golf course was in great condition and it was my first time round here today. I was quite happy with my score. I doubled the 17th, because I took a wrong line off the tee, but it was just great to be playing.
"I've missed it loads. I love playing golf. I'm pretty much golfed out because I've been playing every day, but I can't wait to get back out on tour.
"I want to thank Justin and Kate Rose for putting these events on. You need to be playing to get back in the mindset. I've been playing a lot for the last few weeks and I played eight days on the trot, but it's not the same as having a scorecard in your hand.
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"I'll go back to America in four weeks' time, so hopefully this will get my brain back into tournament golf."
Gabriella Crowley finished one stroke shy of the play-off with her 71, with Hannah Burke on her own at two over and Alice Hewson, a winner on the Ladies European Tour in South Africa in March, firing a 73 alongside Holly Calvert.
