Hannah Green Triumphs at Women's Australian Open

Hannah Green made history at the Women's Australian Open on Sunday, displaying remarkable composure to become the first Australian to lift the prestigious trophy since 2014. This significant victory marks a proud moment for Australian golf.

In a gripping final round contested at Kooyonga Golf Club, the accomplished seven-time LPGA winner delivered a solid two-under-par 70. This outstanding performance enabled her to hold off persistent challenges from her compatriot Cassie Porter and France's Agathe Laisne, ultimately securing a dramatic one-shot victory.

This win is Green's second triumph in a short span of three weeks, following her recent success on the LPGA tour in Singapore. It also represents her inaugural victory on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and positions her as the first Australian recipient of the Patricia Bridges Bowl since the legendary Karrie Webb achieved the feat over a decade ago.

A delighted Green shared her thoughts after the win: "I'm genuinely a bit speechless. My recent win in Singapore undoubtedly helped calm my nerves today. I felt a greater command over my golf ball. Birdies were hard to come by, so I'm incredibly impressed by Cassie Porter's exceptional round. Ultimately, I'm just overjoyed to see my name on that trophy, joining the ranks of so many amazing past champions, including Webby." She further added, "I've always believed that winning your national championship is akin to winning a Major, and that sentiment remains true. Playing on home soil was a truly unique experience; I knew everyone was rooting for me to claim the trophy, and that was a wonderful feeling."

Green, who started the final round in Adelaide with a one-shot lead, faced an early setback as her playing partner, Magdalena Simmermacher, quickly overtook her with consecutive birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes. However, Green promptly countered with a superb birdie at the 5th, capitalizing on Simmermacher's subsequent two dropped shots.

The competition intensified as both LPGA talent Porter and recent LET champion Laisne emerged as strong contenders. Porter, in particular, produced a career-best and course-record round of 62 (-10), propelling her into the clubhouse lead.

Green maintained her momentum with another birdie on the par-5 9th before the turn. Meanwhile, Laisne staged a formidable charge, carding four consecutive birdies from the 8th to the 11th holes, which brought her into a tie for the lead. Laisne, having previously won the Ford Women’s NSW Open just two weeks prior, showcased her resilience by chipping in for a crucial par at the challenging par-3 15th, intensifying the pressure on the Australian favourite.

A pivotal moment occurred two holes later: Laisne suffered a bogey on the 17th, while Green executed an excellent birdie on the 16th, resulting in a crucial two-shot swing in Green's favour. Despite being a Major champion herself (winner of the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Green then bogeyed the 17th, narrowing her lead to a single shot as she approached the final hole. A fortunate bounce from her tee shot, followed by a composed approach to the green — surrounded by enthusiastic Australian supporters — was all she needed to secure par and clinch the hard-fought victory.

Reflecting on the tense finish, Green commented, "It was challenging. I felt like I was choosing the right clubs, but the ball wasn't always landing precisely near the hole, which was quite frustrating. I was aware that players from outside the final group could post a low score, so I tried not to get ahead of myself, knowing that a strong finish from anyone was possible. That birdie on 16 provided a slight cushion. But I admittedly enjoy making things quite nerve-racking for myself and for everyone watching! I certainly hope my next win is a bit more straightforward."

Cassie Porter and Agathe Laisne both concluded the tournament tied for second place at 10-under par. Another Australian, Karis Davidson, shared fourth place at six-under par alongside South Africa’s Casandra Alexander. Magdalena Simmermacher finished solo sixth at five-under par, marking a commendable return to form after a challenging period on the LET. New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori, Wales’ Darcey Harry, and Jana Melichova secured seventh place at Kooyonga Golf Club, finishing four-under par.

The Ladies European Tour's current "Aussie swing" will culminate with its fourth and final event, the Australian WPGA Championship, held at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast.