Hordle's Liz Young grabs first Ladies European Tour win, with Swiss Ladies Open title at Holzhausern

HORDLE golfer Liz Young shot a final-round 69 to win the Swiss Ladies Open and secure her first Ladies European Tour victory in her 14th season as an LET professional.

The 39-year-old Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club member, instrumental in creating the Rose Ladies Series in 2020, finished 12-under-par at Holzhausern, pipping Sweden’s Linn Grant by one stroke.

Going into the final round with the overnight lead, Young opened with a bogey. However, her experience told as she recovered with birdies on the third and seventh holes.

Grant piled on the pressure with three birdies, but pars on the last four holes proved enough for Young to hold on and secure her first title on the tour on her 200th LET start.

Afterwards, a delighted Young said: “I knew my game was coming together, and I was getting better and better. That’s why I’m still out here.

“I hope my daughter is watching.”

The win means Young, who turned professional in 2009, now leads the Race to Costa del Sol standings, the LET’s season-long order of merit competition.

In 2020, Young took matters into her own hands after a succession of Ladies European Tour tournaments were cancelled due to Covid. So, along with Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club professional Jason MacNiven, she set up a new event to help keep female golfers competitive.

Before long, Hampshire-born golfer Justin Rose and his wife Kate learned of the venture and offered their support – and the Rose Ladies Series was born.