Golf: Relaxed Brooky breaks drought

New Zealand's Lynnette Brooky maintained her overnight lead to claim the Ladies Spanish Open title by three strokes from Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera after a thrilling final round at Panoramica G&CC in Castellon, Spain, today.

Brooky secured the victory with a brilliant two-under-par 70 for a total of 13-under-par 275 to claim her fourth Ladies European Tour (LET) title.

The win earned her a place in the prestigious Evian Masters tournament which takes place in July and secured her playing rights on the LET for the next three years.

It was Brooky's first win since she took out the 2003 French Open.

She also won the Spanish event in 2002 and and her other victory was the 1998 Austrian Open.

Brooky, who had led after the first and third rounds and set the course record of 66 on Thursday, which she bettered with a 65 on Saturday, began and finished the final day three shots ahead of Nocera but gained a four shot advantage after her first birdie of the day at the fourth hole.

Nocera replied with birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth holes, with a bogey at the eighth hole but Brooky posted two further birdies at the sixth and seventh holes.

By the turn, the 38-year-old from Wellington had charged into an unassailable position with a four shot advantage.

After a birdie at the tenth hole, she was five clear of Nocera. But then, she double bogeyed the 11th after finding a difficult lie in a bunker.

Nocera took a birdie and the gap decreased to two, before following up with two bogeys at the 13th and 15th holes.

Brooky took another double at the 17th where her second shot found water, but at the 18th, she produced an accomplished shot to eight feet and safely two putted to claim the victory.

After collecting her trophy and her winner's cheque for euro 41,250 ($85,450), Brooky said she was delighted to win after three years without a victory.

"I said to my caddie Gerald that I wanted to get into Evian and we only had a small amount of time to do it, so I just really thank Gerald and my coach Di for sticking with me this week and for giving me the confidence to do it.

"It's been a long time waiting, but you know if I didn't get a win this year I would lose my winner's status.

"I knew if I didn't win this year I'd have to work hard to keep my card, so it's nice to know I can play on the Tour for the next three years.

"I didn't worry about the double bogeys. I said to myself the one thing I will not do this year is freak out.

"Even when I hit that six-iron in the water on 17 I said to myself, 'this is golf'.

"I know I'm a good player. I can do this."

The win has rejuvenated Brooky who was eyeing her next tournament with increased confidence.

"I'd love to win at Evian.

"I've got the confidence to do better now and I think I'm turning into a better all round player.

"I'm going to go out there and try to win the next one too.

"Today was good because it was very relaxed and I don't think I've lost any energy from this game of golf. I think I can go out there and play well again."

- NZPA