Women's Indian Open golf: Chevalier wins maiden LET title

The rookie 23-year old shot a five-under 67 to finish with a three-day total of 204, one better than second-placed Michele Thomson.

This is the third consecutive year and fourth time that the tournament has been won by a rookie.

Camille Chevalier had to summon all her composure to win a maiden LET title when she sunk the putt on the 18th hole for a birdie that made all the difference at the Hero Women's Indian Open here on Sunday.

The rookie 23-year old shot a five-under 67 to finish with a three-day total of 204, one better than second-placed Michele Thomson. Scot Michele, who set the course on fire with an incredible eight birdies on Saturday for a new course record, had a normal final day - her five birdies interspersed with three bogeys to finish sole second.

This is the third consecutive year and fourth time that the tournament has been won by a rookie. Camille's day was a story of contrasting nines – a sedate front to make the turn on par before the putts started rolling in on the back. “On the front nine, I couldn’t make any putts and then on the back nine, I just started to make putts.

"I really didn’t think about winning. I was just trying to play well on every shot and stick to my game and keep my concentration. I was really focused on every single shot and I didn’t think about anyone else,” the Frenchwoman said.

As Michele began dropping her shots after the turn, Camille kept chipping away at her huge lead - one hole at a time. It all boiled down to the final hole and Camille's approach shot of 65m, which landed perfectly on the green, gave her the advantage.

“I didn’t expect I was going to win. I was more concerned about keeping my LET card next year because I was borderline, so I’m really happy because I was so stressed about it.

"I think making the final putt was the only time I felt nervous. I hit a 58-degree wedge. I wanted to hit the slope so it would roll back,” she explained.

The Indian charge was led by Vani Kapoor who had an even-par round of 72 to finish joint sixth, her best-ever finish in the tournament, and the only Indian in the top-10.

The result, however, ensured the Ladies European Tour card for the local girl and Vani admitted it was a relief. “It was there in the back of my mind but I made sure it did not affect my head out on the course today,” she laughed.

Asked if she was disappointed after being in contention overnight, Vani disagreed. “On the contrary, I would take this any day after the kind of thought I had last night,” she insisted.

Defending champion Aditi Ashok could only manage a tied-13th finish after a par score while the other two Indians – Gaurika Bishnoi and amateur Pranavi Urs – finished further back towards the bottom, the former hitting a quadruple bogey on the 11th to falter.

Leading scores: 204: Camille Chevalier (Fra, 68, 69, 67); 205: Michele Thomson (Sco, 70, 64, 71); 208: Anne van Dam (Ned, 71, 70, 67), Carlota Ciganda (Esp, 70, 68, 70), Sarah Kemp (Aus, 71, 66, 71); 209: Klara Spilkova (Cze, 69, 70, 70), Vani Kapoor (Ind, 69, 68, 72), Celine Boutier (Fra, 71, 66, 72); 210: Meghan Maclaren (Eng, 69, 70, 71), Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha, 71, 68, 71).