Scotland’s Carly Booth won a three-way play-off against German duo Anja Monke and Caroline Masson with an eagle on the fourth extra hole at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open.
Booth, who will turn 20 next week, said that she couldn’t have asked for a better early birthday present as she collected her second title in six weeks, following on from her maiden win in Scotland in early May.
Booth posted a final round 68 in regulation to reach 12 under par 276 in total on a sizzling hot day at Golf Gerre Losone in Ticino and birdied the par-five 18th hole three times in the play-off before sinking her 10 foot eagle putt to win and claim the €78,750 first prize.
“I’m overwhelmed; speechless. I’m lost for words; so happy,” Booth said.
“It was tough. We birdied three out of three and I was thinking, someone’s going to have to eagle to win this. I hit a perfect drive every time and then 5-iron onto the green to about 10 foot and just holed it so it was perfect.
“I was just trying to hit a positive putt. I wasn’t trying to think about it and I think with having the experience of winning previously in the Scottish I had grasped the feeling of trying to stay calm and positive.”
Booth jumped high into the air and punched her fist towards the sky before hugging her boyfriend, European Tour player Tano Goya, who was caddying, for, ‘the first and last week.’ Goya said that he would retire from his caddying career with a win.
“He was tremendous help. It was amazing to have him and it’s a shame that he can’t be on my bag more often because he’s playing as well on the men’s tour,” Booth said, adding that her confidence had been boosted massively by her recent home win.
She had struggled in her first two years on tour since turning professional at 17 and returned to qualifying school at the beginning of 2012, but has made huge strides this year since winning on the LET Access Series and then on the main tour in Scotland.
“I’ve been playing very well in practice and I think it was just getting the confidence to take it into the tournament rounds and having that win has really made me feel like I can win, so it was a great thing to do, especially at the start of the year. I said to myself after the Scottish, I’m going to try to get two wins before my 20th and I just did it,” she said with a grin.
With her win, Booth now moves to the top of the ISPS Handa Order of Merit with earnings of just over €124,000 from seven events this season and is €20,000 clear of second placed Christel Boeljon.