WINNER TAKES HALL

ENGLAND’S Georgia Hall produced a brilliant final round to win her first Major title in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham.

Hall, who had never previously tasted victory on the Ladies European Tour or LPGA Tour, dedicated the victory to her grandfather.

She carded six birdies in a closing 67 to finish on 17 under par, two shots ahead of Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum, and fought back tears as she said: “There’s someone special at home who’s going through a very bad time, so this is for you, grandad.

“I’d also like to thank my dad for caddying. Thanks for doing everything for me when I was growing up… and to my mum.”

Her father Wayne, a former twohandicapper, named his daughter in honour of Nick Faldo’s Masters triumph in Augusta, Georgia, in 1996 (left).

The 22-year-old from Bournemouth is just the third home winner of the event since it became a Major in 2001, following in the footsteps of Karen Stupples (2004) and Catriona Matthew (2009).

The 2013 British ladies’ amateur champion said: “It’s too good to be true really. I don’t think it’s all sunk in for me. It was my goal when I was nine years old on the putting green: ‘This six-footer’s for the British Open’ and to actually have that – and luckily it was just a tap-in – I’m over the moon. I’m so happy.”

Phatlum began the day with a one-shot lead over Hall and made a brilliant start with four birdies in the first six holes to double her advantage, although Hall also birdied the first, fourth and sixth.

However, Hall took a share of lead when she birdied from 10 feet on the 13th and got her nose in front thanks to birdies on the 15th and 16th.

When Phatlum found sand off the tee on the 17th and compounded the error by threeputting for a double bogey, Hall had the luxury of a three-shot lead and could easily afford her only bogey of the day on the 18th.

Hall said: “I promised myself not to get ahead of myself and feel any emotions, which is sometimes hard because I wanted to take it all in.

“I was staying very calm and patient and it was very close up to the last two holes and I was just trying to hole the putts.

“So many people were behind me and supporting me. It was so nice to play in England in front of a home crowd.”