Ludivine Kreutz triumphs in Tenerife
IN: News | Ladies European | Tenerife Ladies Open (2005) | Wrap | 11 Apr 2005
France's Ludivine Kreutz completed a wire-to-wire victory at the €242, 000 Tenerife Ladies Open at Golf Costa Adeje.
The 31-year-old from Rognac tacked a final round two-under-par 70 onto her three opening rounds of 69 to finish at eleven-under-par, two shots clear of Miriam Nagl from Germany.
Nagl, from Berlin, who tasted victory on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour when she won qualifying school in 2004, carded a three-under-par 69 to finish in outright second place on nine-under-par.
Eleanor Pilgrim from Wales tied for third position with the defending champion Diana Luna from Italy. Both finished on seven-under par after Pilgrim had a 71 and Luna had a 69.
England's Trish Johnson had a level par 72 to tie for sixth place with Marta Prieto from Spain, who had a 74, to finish on a five-under-par total.
Five players tied for eighth place on four-under-par. They were Katie Bakken from the USA, Sara Beautell from Tenerife, Gwladys Nocera from France, Martina Eberl from Germany and England's Georgina Simpson.
Yet it was Kreutz who claimed the second win in her seven year professional career after winning the Italian Open in 2003.
Her round included four birdies at the eighth, 13th, 15th and 18th holes, and two bogeys at the sixth and ninth.
Kreutz claimed €36,300 in prize winnings and now sits in second position in the LET money list and sixth place in the automatic Solheim Cup Standings.
"At the beginning of the week it was my goal to have a win and to qualify for the Evian Masters", said Kreutz, who has competed in the event five times.
"Now I've achieved that, I feel more relaxed and now I know I'm in I'm really happy as it's such a great event and all my family and friends will be there."
"My next goal is to play well in the really big events, such as the Weetabix Women's British Open and the Evian Masters. As for the Solheim Cup, I haven't really thought about that but I try not to put myself under too much pressure."
Kreutz held the lead for all four rounds of the Tenerife Ladies Open, following Shani Waugh's wire-to-wire victory last week at the Thailand Ladies Open, where the French woman had a 12th place finish.
Her new found form follows a tough 2004 season on the LET, but after a winter of hard practise, Kreutz's confidence is back.
"When I won in Italy I didn't realise how I'd done it and last year was quite hard for me because I missed a lot of cuts, so I was quite down. But I put in a lot of work last winter and it's such a good feeling to win again," she said.
Kreutz's trophy was crafted from 'palo santo' wood, a tree native to Tenerife, with a silver encasing at the bottom, to emulate the ocean waves.
But it was a steady week for the French woman, who kept a level head throughout the entire week to keep ahead of those players chasing.
"I tried to keep my rhythm, not go too fast and keep focused," said Kreutz, who turned professional in 1997.
"The pin positions were hard because the greens were dry and it was difficult to stop the ball."
After her win she received the customary soaking in water on the 18th green from all of the supporting French players.
Rebecca Stevenson and Carlie Butler were the only two Australasian players to make the cut. Both players finsihed in equal 41st place at 4.
Source - LET
