The KPMG Women's Irish Open has come to an end and we have our champion, Klara Spilkova claimed her second victory on the Ladies European Tour (LET) after a three-person playoff. This victory is her second on the LET and first since 2017.
The Czech star fired a final round of 67 (-5) to end the tournament on 14-under-par alongside Finland’s Ursula Wikstrom and Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup.
At the end of play, the trio headed back down to 18 and it was Spilkova who rolled in her birdie putt to emerge as the champion at Dromoland Castle. History was made on this day, as over 10,000 spectators arrived on site in Clare to watch Europe's top stars battle it out. The most spectators at a women's golf event in Ireland ever.
Klara was understandably delighted when the winning putt sank and in her acceptance speech, spoke about how great it was the Women's Irish Open was back on the LET circuit, having played in the last Women's Irish Open ten years ago, at the age of 17!
“I was just trying to stay patient out there because I started a little funny,” said Spilkova. “But I just really believed in myself somehow and I kept saying to myself that it was there for me.
“It has been a while since I’ve won and I have been playing really good recently, so somehow, I was trying to convince myself that I could win today.”
And Spilkova had a tough start with two bogeys in her first five holes, but she also made three birdies to make the turn in 34 (-1).
Back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11 saw the Czech player put herself right in the mix before another birdie on 16.
A miraculous par-save from the edge of the water at 17 gave Spilkova the momentum and she finished her day with a birdie on 18 which at the time put her in the lead in the clubhouse.
Shot of the day. Shot of her life ⭐️
A special par-save on 17 from @spilkovaklara on the way to victory at @womensirishopen #RaiseOurGame | #WIO2022— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 25, 2022
Four players finished in a tie for fourth place with Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby, Austria’s Christine Wolf, Ireland’s Leona Maguire and England’s Annabel Dimmock.
It was a solid end to the week for Solheim Cup star Maguire after a round of 68 (-4), while there were also 10,000 spectators at Dromoland Castle on Sunday.
“I gave it my very best shot today especially on the back nine,” the Irish star said. “I was just a little bit too far back after Friday, but if you would have told me I’d finish on 13-under-par on Friday night I would have taken it.
“There has been some great golf played. The Irish fans had a lot to cheer about this week, they’ve come out in their droves, and I think the first KPMG Women’s Irish Open in ten years has been a great success.”
It might not have been the win, but @leona_maguire has put on a show for these Irish fans this week 🇮🇪
What a weekend performance from the home hero!#RaiseOurGame | #WIO2022 pic.twitter.com/LymFHYsrE6— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 25, 2022
The KPMG Women's Irish Open was a resounding success, with record attendance numbers a fantastic winner and a growing appetite for more women's golf in Ireland, this is a bright start to a new beginning for the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour and we cannot wait to see what comes next.
Scotland’s Laura Beveridge, England’s Gabriella Cowley and Spain’s Carmen Alonso rounded out the top 10 finishing in T8 on 12-under-par.
In the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol, Linn Grant increased her lead at the top of the standings and has a 202.27 point lead over compatriot Maja Stark with fellow Swede Johanna Gustavsson in third place on 1,885.63 points.
While KMPG Women’s Irish Open champion Spilkova jumped up the rankings from 58th place and now sits 15th with 935 points from four LET events.
