Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year and LET Order of Merit winner Esther Henseleit.
Picture by TRISTAN JONES

ESTHER Henseleit produced a stunning victory in the inaugural Magical Kenya Ladies Open to wrap up the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit title for the German rookie.

Henseleit carded a course record eight-under par 64 on a dramatic final day at Vipingo Ridge, near Mombasa, to deny runaway leader Julia Engström who led by seven shots overnight.

Twenty-year-old Henseleit, from Hamburg, became only the third player in the 41-year history of the Ladies European Tour to capture the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year titles in the same season.

She follows Surrey’s Dame Laura Davies in 1985, and Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, in 2012.

Victory saw Henseleit leapfrog Marianne Skarpnord as the European No. 1 – Esther also become the first German player to win either the LET Order of Merit or the Rookie of the Year titles.

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT TABLE

Esther Henseleit posted eight birdies on the Baobab Course, at Vipingo Ridge, to post a winning total of 14 under – one better than India’s Aditi Ashok, who Aditi Ashokshot 65. Engström faded to third after a two-over par 74.

Esther Henseleit with her trophy, a giraffe made from recycled flip-flops gathered from Kenya’s beaches, by the company ‘Ocean Sole.’ Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Henseleit started the day seven strokes behind Engström, but quickly made a charge with birdies on the first, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes to get within two at the turn.

Engström three-putted the 10^th as Henseleit birdied the 11^th leaving the pair were tied on 12 under.

Henseleit pulled a stroke ahead with a birdie from six feet on the 13^th hole and then went two clear after Engström bogeyed the same hole.

An eighth birdie from four feet at the 15^th moved Henseleit three strokes clear, but saw her lead cut to one as fast-finishing Ashok birdied the 16^th and 18^th.

Henseleit ended with three pars to ensure her first Ladies European Tour title, following a breakthrough professional win earlier this year on the LET Access Series, in the Skaftö Open.

India’s Aditi Ashok finished second in the first-ever Magical Kenya Ladies Open. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

Henseleit, who finished second on four occasions in 2019, said: “To close the season with a win is the best feeling I could imagine.

“To be the Order of Merit winner and Rookie of the Year is just unbelievable.

“Yesterday, after my round, I was a bit disappointed, but I just tried to do everything better today. I definitely tried to win, although I knew it would be really hard.

“After nine holes, I saw I was two shots back and I knew it was possible.

“I just tried to make a lot of birdies and I hit some great iron shots and gave myself many short birdie putts.

“The course was beautiful and it played a bit easier today, because the greens were softer. I did the best I could.”

Esther Henseleit finished third at LET Qualifying School 12 months ago and turned professional in January with a handicap of plus-seven.

The German knew she needed to win the Magical Kenya Ladies Open to snatch the Order of Merit.

And she delivered under pressure admitting on TV that she was watching the scoreboards all the way around in her fourth round.

Her season and eight further top-10 finishes, including four runner-up sports at the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, Ladies European Thailand Championship and Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open.

Henseleit added: “It’s been a great year on the Ladies European Tour. It’s a really friendly tour and it’s been great to travel the world each week with all the other golfers.”

•For the final scores in the Magical Kenya Ladies Open click here.

The post Esther Henseleit matches Laura Davies with LET rookie and No. 1 titles appeared first on Golf North.

Swedish teenager Julia Engström, who led after the first round of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, at Vipingo Ridge, courtesy of a five-under par 67. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

HAMPSHIRE’S Liz Young overcame a major scare before her tee time to emerge as the closest challenger to Swedish teenager Julia Engström, who made a strong start to the season-ending Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

Engström set the pace with a five-under par 67 at Vipingo Ridge, on Thursday, in the event that brings down the curtain on the 2019 Ladies European Tour season.

Meanwhile Young, who is in her 11^th year on the LET, produced five birdies and one bogey early in the tournament after a scary start to her day.

The Brokenhurst Manor member had the sort of experience I’m a Celebrity’s Kate Garraway and EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa have been having in the Australian jungle on ITV’s reality show, when she was confronted by a gaint spider in her hotel room in the early hours.

Young, who is looking for her first top 10 finish since becoming a mum three years ago, said: “At 5.30am, I walked into the bathroom and there was the biggest huntsman spider in the shower, terrifying me.

“My roommate (Eleanor Givens) was still asleep so I had to be quiet. She has informed me that it’s gone, but I really hope it’s gone down the drain and not into the bedroom.”

Young – who played in the 2016 Women’s British Open at Woburn while seven months’ pregnant – said it was so hot and sticky at 7am that she had to change her glove on the driving range.

However cloud cover moved in just before midday to ease conditions for 104-strong field.

Thirty-seven-year-old Young, from the New Forest, who turned pro in 2009 after playing in the 2008 Curtis Cup, for Great Britain and Ireland against the USA, at St Andrews, has had four top 20s in 2019.

She stands 32nd on this year’s money list having won €35,321 in 11 events.

Eighteen-year-old Julia Engström carded six birdies and a bogey on a sun-kissed opening day to lead by one shot.

Rookie Esther Henseleit, from Germany, who is also looking for a breakthrough victory, shot a 69 to rest alongside last year’s Jabra Ladies Open champion Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, from France.

America’s Cheyenne Woods was also in form and fired a two-under par 70 to claim outright fifth place.

Engström – last season’s Rookie of the Year – birdied the third and fourth holes and cruised to the turn in 34 – before adding another gain at the 11^th.

She hit a loose drive on the 13^th resulting in her sole bogey, but birdied the 14^th and 15^th to join Young in the lead.

Engström then knocked a delightful wedge to within nine feet of the target on 18, before making her final birdie putt.

“It was a combination of decent ball-striking and then being good around the greens,” said Julia Engström, who tied for fourth in last week’s Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España after a career-best round of 65 in Saturday’s third round.

“The wind started blowing from the fourth hole as a thunderstorm was coming in close by – and we could feel that. But it was nice to have some breeze because it was so hot.

“It’s always nice to have a few good tournaments and after last week, I tried to stay calm and not stress out too much.”

Henseleit, who is still in the running to end the season as European No 1 if she can record her maiden victory this weekend, also played in the morning, before the wind picked up.

She carded four birdies and a bogey to be six strokes better than the current LET Order of Merit leader, Marianne Skarpnord, who opened with a three-over par 75 to lie in equal 48^th position.

Vayson de Pradenne aims to copy Colsearts

THE stakes are equally high for Frenchwoman Astrid Vayson de Pradenne, who stood in 75^th place on the Order of Merit as the first Magical Kenya Ladies Open got under way.

She needs a strong finish to move into the top 70 and retain her LET card, but is looking at the bigger picture.

The qualified physiotherapist said: “I’m just trying to enjoy myself. I’m already blessed to be here.

“You look at the scenery around, you look at the sea. Kenya is a fantastic place and I’m just enjoying myself.

“I’m not thinking about trying to save the card, because I’m 34, I’ve got something going in my life other than golf. I’m golf passionate, but if I have to stop after this week, it’s fine.

“Of course I will be sad and frustrated, but I know it’s not going to be the end of my life.

“I know I have to do something this week. I met Nicolas Colsaerts in August and he told me how bad his season was and then he won the French Open.

“So with my coach, we said, ‘You never know, you might do a Colsaerts this week.’ If I don’t do a Colsaerts, I will at least try to play my best golf to try to secure my playing rights for next year.”

Meanwhile, a second tournament victory for Woods, the winner of the 2014 Volvik RACV Ladies Masters in Australia, would allow her to re-join the LET next year.

•Follow live scoring at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open by clicking here.

The post Sweden’s Julia Engström goes low in Kenya as Liz Young defies giant spider in shower appeared first on Golf North.