Reid leads from start to finish

ANTALYA: England’s Melissa Reid won the 500 000 (R6.7 million) Turkish Airlines Ladies Open yesterday on a difficult scoring day because of wind and super-slick greens at Carya Golf Club.

It was her fifth title on the Ladies European Tour and her second success in this event – she was also a winner here in 2010.

“I feel my game is back where I want it to be after a couple of tough years,” said the 27-year-old, whose last victory was in 2012 in the Prague Open.

“All credit to my coach, Kevin Craggs, who has helped me with my golf and my life,” added the football fanatic – she supports Derby County – who closed with level-par 73 for an 11-under-par 283 aggregate.

“I led from start to finish, which made it extra special,” said Reid, who finished four clear of France’s Gwladys Nocera, who leads this year’s Order of Merit and won the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in March.

Reid was joint second in Morocco alongside South Africa’s Nicole Garcia, who made the cut here but finished well down the leader board in joint 53rd position on 302 after a 75 yesterday.

Stacy Bregman placed best of the South Africans, sharing 32nd on 295 following a 78 on a day when no one was able to break 70.

Monique Smit (74 for 300 and a tie for 49th) was next best of the South Africans, while Melissa Eaton – making her debut as a card holder on tour – posted a 77 for 303 and 55th spot.

Garcia will now try and qualify for the US Women’s Open in an England-based qualifier in Buckinghamshire starting on Monday – something she also tried last year, when she succeeded in cracking a spot in her first Major.

“There’ll be 140 of us trying for eight spots, so I’ll have to be on my game,” she said.

Grant Winter covered the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open as a guest of the airline.