Reid flying high again after Turkish Airlines win
Melissa Reid of England with the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open trophy. Picture courtesy Turkish Airlines
England's Melissa Reid raced to a wire-to-wire win in the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open — her first win for three years — and insisted, "This is only the beginning."
The 27-year old began the final day one stroke clear of Scotland's Pamela Prestwell but in windy conditions at Carya Golf Club in Belek she had enough with a controlled, level par 73 to win by four shots from Gwladys Nocera of France on 11 under par.
A cheque for €75,000 moved the Derby native to second behind Nocera in the Order of Merit and with a new, more athletic training method yielding results, she's looking forward to winning back her Solheim Cup place for the matches in Germany later this year.
“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,” said Reid, collecting the trophy for the second time after her 2010 victory at nearby National Golf Club.
One stroke clear going into the final round, the blonde bomber birdied the first hole and quickly gained a four stroke advantage after her closest challenger Pretswell dropped four shots in her first five holes.
Melissa Reid. Credit: Tristan Jones
A bogey at the sixth was her only blip and while Nocera moved within two of the lead after 11 holes, the French star dropped two shot at the 15th and 18th as Reid strung together 12 closing pars to win with ease.
The champion teed up on the Carya course without a practice round and dominated the tournament from the first round with a career best, eight under par 65.
Her 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 and said: “I’ve got a fantastic team around me which I can’t give enough credit to and I’ve been working with Kevin Craggs. He’s been amazing and a massive influence not just on my career but on my life.
"It’s been a difficult journey and it’s not one I want to go through again but it makes the win even sweeter and I’ve stepped it up a bit and it’s just the beginning really.”
This puts Reid’s career right back on track and she is now on the verge of a second Solheim Cup appearance.
Nocera is another player who is 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," said Nocera, who will turn 40 on Friday. "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."
Dame Laura Davies, Kylie Walker and Sally Watson tied for third place on six under par, while Pretswell slipped into sixth place after a final round of 78.
Watson said: “I am pleased. I was three shots back at the start of the day and with the wind and tough conditions it was tough to put a low score together to catch Melissa. I can’t complain with a third place finish: highest of the year so far.”
Davies said: “It’s been a great week to be honest with you, I’ve really enjoyed the concept. I love the golf course. I just wish we played it here every year because it’s a great course for the girls and gives us a chance to play some really good golf and make lots of birdies.
"Mel made more than most of us, but overall I’m really pleased. I had one bad day with the putter and it really cost me dearly, but I’m happy with the way I’m hitting it.”
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.
Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, Carya Golf Club (Par 73)
281 Melissa Reid (ENG) 65 69 74 73
285 Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 68 70 76 71
286 Kylie Walker (SCO) 72 74 68 72, Sally Watson (SCO) 72 71 68 75, Laura Davies (ENG) 66 77 71 72
287 Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 72 65 72 78
288 Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 71 73 72 72, Lucie Andre (FRA) 71 70 71 76, Emily Kristine Pedersen (DNK) 75 73 70 70
290 Rebecca Artis (AUS) 69 71 72 78, Lynn Carlsson (SWE) 72 71 72 75, Beth Allen (USA) 72 71 73 74, Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DNK) 72 75 67 76, Carly Booth (SCO) 70 70 75 75
291 Isabelle Boineau (FRA) 70 73 73 75, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 72 74 74 71, Patricia Sanz Barrio (ESP) 74 74 72 71, Lina Boqvist (SWE) 73 73 70 75, Louise Stahle (SWE) 76 73 69 73
292 Lauren Taylor (ENG) 71 76 72 73, Bree Arthur (AUS) 76 72 68 76, Camilla Lennarth (SWE) 71 71 76 74, Chloe Leurquin (BEL) 70 73 73 76, Tonje Daffinrud (NOR) 75 68 72 77, Georgia Hall (ENG) 72 71 77 72, Malene Jorgensen (DEN) 70 75 75 72
293 Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 72 76 72 73, Liz Young (ENG) 71 74 72 76
294 Amy Boulden (WAL) 71 70 79 74, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 76 73 71 74, Stefania Croce (ITA) 77 74 70 73
295 Christine Wolf (AUT) 75 74 72 74, Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) 80 71 66 78, Fabienne In-albon (SWI) 73 74 74 74, Caroline Martens (NOR) 69 80 73 73, Stacy Lee Bregman (RSA) 73 70 74 78, Ssu-Chia Cheng (TPE) 75 73 76 71, Maria Balikoeva (RUS) 73 76 75 71
296 Florentyna Parker (ENG) 73 75 72 76, Holly Clyburn (ENG) 73 74 77 72, Stacey Keating (AUS) 77 74 72 73
297 Miriam Nagl (BRA) 74 76 72 75
298 Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP) 78 73 73 74, Marion Ricordeau (FRA) 74 77 70 77, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 77 69 75 77, Daisy Nielsen (DEN) 76 73 72 77
299 Maha Haddioui (MAR) 74 75 74 76, Ann-Kathrin Lindner (GER) 76 73 74 76
300 Laura Jansone (LVA) 76 71 75 78, Monique Smit (RSA) 75 75 76 74, Noora Tamminen (FIN) 69 82 74 75
301 Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 74 77 74 76
302 Holly Aitchison (ENG) 75 75 77 75, Nicole Garcia (RSA) 75 75 77 75
303 Linda Henriksson (FIN) 72 79 77 75, Alex Peters (ENG) 75 76 76 76, Vikki Laing (SCO) 73 70 83 77, Melissa Eaton (RSA) 72 74 80 77, Lien Willems (BEL) 72 79 75 77
304 Nina Holleder (GER) 79 72 76 77, Csilla Lajtai-rozsa (HUN) 74 74 80 76
305 Diana Luna (ITA) 75 76 76 78
306 Martyna Mierzwa (POL) 73 77 80 76, Emma Goddard (ENG) 78 73 77 78
307 Steffi Kirchmayr (GER) 73 77 79 78, Virginia Espejo (ESP) 73 74 83 77
311 Hannah Ralph (ENG) 74 76 77 84
313 Emma Westin (SWE) 78 73 76 86
