Marianne Skarpnord fired a superb 4-under par 68 in today 's final round of the Ballarat Icons ALPG Pro-am at Ballarat Golf club, to finish at 7-under par and secure a 1-shot victory over American Kim Kaufman and New South Welshwoman Celina Yuan.
The Norwegian had started the day 3 shots behind overnight leader Robyn Choi, after the Queenslander had opened with a flawless 6 under par 66. Skarpnord put herself right into contention heading into the back 9 after an opening front nine of 4 under par 32 and finished solidly, making a par at the closing hole for the victory.
Choi had started brightly with a birdie at her opening hole, before a double-bogey 6 at the short par 3rd hole, followed by a bogey at the 5th derailed her challenge. The 20-year-old managed to steady the ship on the back 9 eventually signing for a 74 to finish in 7th place.
Skarpnord's closest challengers were Kaufman, who shot a 5-under par 67 to finish at -6 and Yuan who shot a second successive 3-under par 69 to also finish at -6.
American Beth Allen, Tsai Peiying from Taiwan, and Englishwoman Hannah Burke all finished in a tie for 4th place at -4.
