Beth Coulter took another giant step towards winning her Ladies European Tour card despite losing in a play-off marred by a bizarre rules controversy in Denmark.
The Co Down star closed with a three-over 75 to tie with Sweden's Moa Svedenskiold (69) and German amateur Lena Geier (75) on five-over-par in the CSK Steel Women's Open at HimmerLand Resort.
She lost in the end to Svedenskiold on the fourth extra hole but picked up €5,250 to move from 14th to fifth in the Order of Merit race for seven Ladies European Tour cards.
But she was also unlucky not to make it two play-off wins from as many professional starts following her maiden win in last week's Women's Irish Challenge at Malahide.
On the first play-off hole, Geier made bogey while both Svedenskiold and Coulter made par to make it a two-way shootout for the title before controversy struck on the second play-off hole.
Svedenskiold thought she had won after making par from getting up and down from thick rough beside the greenside bunker, while Coulter missed her par putt.
Coulter proceeded to pick up her ball, thinking the play-off was over, and players began mobbing Svedenskiold on the 18th green in celebration.
Yet 10 minutes later, Svedenskiold was informed by a rules official that she had been assessed a two-stroke penalty for unlawfully building a stance in the bunker, which meant she made double bogey.
But because Coulter did not finish out, she was assessed a one-stroke penalty and was made to replace her ball on the green before also tapping in for double bogey to send the play-off into a third hole after much confusion.
Svedenskiold then sent her drive on the third play-off hole into the penalty area, but hit a good approach shot and two-putted to save bogey.
But Coulter could not capitalise, leaving her second shot from the fairway near the hazard area before also making bogey.
The roles were reversed on the fourth and final play-off hole as this time Coulter sent her drive into the penalty area, and Svedenskiold found a fairway bunker.
Settling her nerves after splashing out to the fairway, the Swede got up and down from 22 yards for par, and her second LET Access Tour win as Coulter made bogey.
"It's been a long day, so I'm exhausted," Svedenskiold said. "Obviously really, really proud of how I handled it. I was standing in the bunker.
"The ball was outside in the rough. I took my stance, I hit the shot and made par. Beth missed her putt for par, and I thought I won.
"Back on the 18th, I was just trying to stay calm. I was trying to stay in myself and trust my game. Obviously it was confusing at first, but then the ruling…
"There was an official behind me, so I was okay, I'll just continue trying to stay patient and played my game and ended up winning."
Svedenskiold had to wait for about two hours before finding out she had a chance to win the trophy after her 69, which was the best score of the day by three strokes, set the clubhouse target at five-over.
Coulter had the lead with four holes to play but double-bogeyed the par-four 15th before parring her way home to give herself a chance to become the first women's golfer to win her first two professional events.
“I’m happy with my performance this week in a very strong field in difficult conditions,” Coulter said. “Unfortunately it wasn’t my turn in the playoff this week. We go again in a few weeks!”
She's now second in the Rookie of the Year standings behind Svedenskiold but right on track to win her full LET card with eight events of the Access Series season remaining.
Article Link: Coulter denied back to back wins after bizarre play-off ruled controversy - News - Irish Golf Desk