Melissa Reid Captures Wire-to-Wire Turkish Airlines Ladies Open Win
Aug 17, 2013; Parker, CO, USA; Members of team Europe hoist the Solheim Cup following the final round of the 2013 Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Solheim Cup fever is high on both sides of the Atlantic right now and play at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open has opened European team options to include England’s Melissa Reid and France’s Gwladys Nocera.
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Reid overtook Dame Laura Davies’s 1st round clubhouse lead at the Carya Golf Club on Sunday afternoon, took control of the leaderboard, and never relinquished it. With rounds of 65, 69, 74 and 73 Reid wrapped up the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open Wednesday, put her 5th Ladies European Tour victory on her resume, and is on the verge now of making her 2nd Solheim appearance.
One stroke clear going into the final round, Reid birdied the first hole and she quickly gained a four stroke advantage after her closest challenger, Pamela Pretswell, dropped four shots in her first five holes.
Reid bogeyed the sixth and Gwladys Nocera moved within two of the lead after 11 holes, but then Nocera dropped two strokes at 15 and 18 as Reid came home with 12 steady pars, finishing the Open at 11-under par and four shots clear of Nocera.
Although Reid teed up on the Carya course without a practice round she dominated the tournament from the first round with a career best eight under par.
"“When you win you want to win properly, and to lead every single day has been nice. I’ve not been in that position before, so to win in that way does make it extra special . . .” Melissa Reid"
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Reid’s last victory came at the Prague Golf Masters in 2012, which she won a month after the tragic loss of her mother, Joy, and her success in Turkey completed a difficult emotional journey for the popular and talented player.
After a tough period on the course and personally, she now feels that her game is better than ever. This win puts Reid’s career right back on track.
Nocera is also determined to make the European team. She almost pulled out of the tournament with an ankle injury sustained during a photoshoot a month ago, but played through pain and in heavy strapping as she finished solo second on seven under par.
"“If you would have told me I could finish second before the week I would have signed for it. This shows me what I have and even when I’m not 100 per cent I can still play well, so I think that’s another thing I’ve learned and it was great. I’ve hit the ball really well, not as long off the tee, but I managed to stay on the dance floor, so that was the main thing,” said Nocera, who will turn 40 on Friday."
Dame Laura Davies, Kylie Walker and Sally Watson tied for third place at six under par, while Pretswell slipped into sixth place after a final round of 78.
The first golf tournament on any major golf tour to finish on a Wednesday was hailed as a great success by fans, sponsors and media around the globe who supported the LET’s #LETwednesday campaign. The move was designed to attract wider television audiences by moving women’s professional golf into a new space within world sport.
The Ladies European Tour plays returns to a conventional weekend tournament schedule for the Deloitte Ladies Open, June 19-21, to be contested at The International Golf Club in Amsterdam, Holland.