European Ladies Amateur: Julia Lopez Ramirez completes incredible comeback
Julia Lopez Ramirez (European Golf Association Photo)
Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain produced a spectacular finish on Saturday, making three birdies on the final three holes to win the 2023
European Ladies Amateur Championship.
The number-one ranked amateur player in the world,
Ingrid Lindblad, was the home crowd’s favorite, entering Round 4 with a one-shot advantage at Tegelberga Golfklubb. But she made a bogey on the first, letting the field back in the mix. The 2021 champion then struggled to convert birdie opportunities, settling for an even-par 71 and a total of 5-under to earn third place.
Several other contenders struggled to keep the pace on the opening holes of the back-nine. The door was open for a duel between two Spanish players, Lopez Ramirez and
Carla Bernat. The latter made a big step forward thanks to a birdie on the par-3 No. 14.
But things got interesting late in the round, with a bogey on No. 16 due to a penalty off the tee and yet another dropped shot on No. 17. She clinched second place nonetheless, thanks to an ultimate birdie on the last par-5 to edge Lindblad by one shot.
Even with her compatriot leaving the door open, Lopez Ramirez had to muscle her way through, having conceded a bogey on No. 15, but a brilliant approach on No. 16 gave her a birdie opportunity she was able to connect on.
A second birdie on the par-3 No. 17 gave her a one-shot advantage walking down the last fairway and a chance to win it all with a par. But she managed to make the margin even bigger with a closing birdie cheered on by the entire Spanish squad.
Julia Lopez Ramirez’s win concludes an impressive season for the Spanish amateur teams, who won three out of four European Team Championships and got two more gold medals in the flagship European individual events.
The summer is not over yet for the Mississippi State student. Her victory earns her the opportunity to play in the AIG Women’s Open in two weeks' time.
ABOUT THE European Ladies Amateur
The premier ladies championship in Continental
Europe, conducted by the European Golf
Association, which is comprised of 38 member
countries. 72 hole stroke play format.
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