Rookie Áine Donegan was bitterly disappointed to drop four shots in her last three holes despite claiming her maiden LET top-10 finish in the $2 million PIF London Championship.
The Ennis native (24) went into the final round in third place at Centurion Club, eight shots behind Canada's Anna Huang, who became the youngest player to win four LET titles when she held off Charley Hull and eagled the last to win by two strokes on 22-under-par.
For a while it appeared that Donegan could challenge Hull for second place and even put pressure on Huang, when she birdied four of her first seven holes to get within five shots of the lead.
But after she three-putted the par-five ninth for bogey to turn in a tie for third, the Lahinch star came home in four-over 40, carding a one-over 74 to finish in a four-way tie for 10th on 10-under.
"Obviously, very disappointed with the finish," said Donegan, who birdied the 15th but double-bogeyed the 16th after being forced to take a penalty drop following a poor drive and then bogeyed the last two holes.
"But if you told me at the start of the week, I definitely would have taken it. So, only taking the positives."
While she banked the biggest cheque of her short career, €36,321 and moved from 86th in the Order of Merit to 67th in the race to make the top 70 who will retain their cards, Donegan headed down the back nine tied for third and in position to win around €90,000.
She'd birdied her last four holes in her third round to clinch her spot alongside Huang and Hull in the final group.
But while she was clearly disappointed after she overshot the short 17th and three-putted the last, she was only taking the positives.
"I suppose it's very different feelings I had yesterday, considering such a good finish yesterday and then today," she said. "So, no, I'm going to only take the positives from this week.
"Obviously, playing in such a big tournament in the final group, you get to learn loads, and even just getting to play with Charlie and Anna today, I learned so much from them.
"I can only look at the positives, and I'm looking forward to next week now in Switzerland."
As for the title race, Hull reduced Huang's three-shot overnight lead to two by the turn, then cut the gap to one stroke with a birdie at the 13th.
They matched birdies at the par-five 15th before Hull birdied the 16th from 25 feet to take the lead.
Huang had to make a 12-footer for bogey there to trail by just one stroke, and that proved crucial in the end as Hull four-putted the par-three 17th for a double-bogey to fall one stroke behind.
Huang then closed out a memorable victory by making an eagle at the 18th for the fourth day running to shoot a three-under 70 and win by two strokes from Hull, who shot 69, on 22-under.
"Gosh, that was probably the most thrilling round of golf of my life," Huang said after winning on the LET for the fourth time in 11 months and banking €259,905. "I'm shaking right now.
"That was crazy. I have no words, honestly. That was like, wow. I'm just so shocked."
Elm Park's Anna Foster tied for 37th on one-over after a 73 (€11,609) while Sara Byrne's 74 left her 51st (€6,627) on four-over.
At the HotelPlanner Tour's Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A, Sweden's Christofer Blomstrand (34) claimed his second HotelPlanner Tour win at Schloss Roxburghe near Kelso.
He shot a three-under 68 to win by two strokes from compatriot Adam Wallin on 19-under.
Mark Power was 30th on eight-under after a 69 as closing rounds of 73 left Liam Nolan tied 47th on four-under and Max Kennedy joint 56th, three shots further back.
Article Link: Bittersweet top 10 for Donegan costly finish to PIF London Championship - News - Irish Golf Desk