Alice in wonderland after debut win
England’s Alice Hewson enjoyed a dream start to her Ladies European Tour career as she yesterday claimed victory at the South African Women’s Open.
Making her debut on the tour, the 22-year-old came from three shots behind overnight leader Olivia Cowan to win by one at the Westlake Golf Club.
Hewson got off to a flying start with a birdie at the first hole to move to five-under and, although she dropped a shot at the third, she immediately regained it at the fourth.
After nine holes, Hewson was in a four-way share of the lead, and she found herself out in front after the three other leaders all bogeyed the 10th.
Another bogey at the 11th put Hewson, from Hemel Hempstead, back in the pack but she pulled clear again with a birdie at 13 and was not caught.
There was drama at the 18th, though, where Hewson hit a tree with her second shot. But she played a brilliant chip onto the green before holing a seven-foot putt to finish a stroke ahead of South Africa’s Monique Smit and Emma Nilsson of Sweden.
Hewson said: “I couldn’t have hoped for a better start. It feels absolutely incredible and it really is a dream come true.”
Scotland’s Kelsey Macdonald fired a final-round 73 to finish in a tie for fourth on three-under-par.
Her fellow Scots Hannah McCook and Jane Turner tied for 22nd on two-over, while Michele Thomson was six shots further back in 46th. Alison Muirhead rounded off the Scottish involvement following the cut finished on nineover-par in a tie for 57th.