Monke claims maiden victory

Germany s Anja Monke captured her maiden Ladies European Tour title on Sunday by winning the Vediorbis Open de France Dames at Le Golf D Arras.

Monke carded a final round of four-under-par 68 to finish on a four-round total of 10-under, two clear of Spain s Tania Elosegui and Nina Reis of Sweden.

I can t believe it! said Monke. I ve worked for this moment for the last five years and so it s nice to see it happen.

After opening with rounds of 67, 78 and 65, she came from four shots behind the third round leader Stefania Croce of Italy to secure the 52,500 first prize money.

Croce carded 75 and shared fourth place on seven under par with England s Lora Fairclough and Paula Marti of Spain.

The 26-year-old Elosegui from San Sebastian took the early initiative in the final round, grabbing a three-way share of the lead on eight-under-par after she holed her second shot for eagle from 100 metres at the par four sixth-hole. She took the outright lead after a birdie at the seventh hole, but was eventually overtaken by Monke after 16 holes.

Monke went to the turn in level par 36 with nine steady pars but picked up the pace with four birdies on the back nine at the 10th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes.

After Elosegui bogeyed the par-four 16th, the 31-year-old Monke, from Herford, sank a ten foot birdie putt at the same hole to take a one stroke advantage and then extended it to two strokes by rolling in a birdie putt from ten-feet at the par-four 17th.

I was in a pretty good mood today because I didn t have anything to lose, that s how I felt this morning, said Monke.

If I lost it then I lost it on Friday for sure. The other three days I won it.

The fifth year tour player had been a runner-up twice before on the Ladies European Tour in 2006, in Holland and in Hungary. She had also posted four top ten finishes on the LET in 2008.

Monke turned professional at the end of 2005 after working as a medical technologist in a hospital laboratory for four years. She explained: I know how real life is and real work so that makes my life even more enjoyable.

Monke went to qualifying school and won her full card, deciding to give herself two to three years to see how she enjoyed life as a touring professional. She found that she enjoyed the lifestyle so much that she committed to golf full time and now she is reaping the rewards.

Vediorbis Open de France Dames Le Golf d'Arras 25th - 28th September 2008 Final Scoreboard

278 - Anja Monke (GER) 67 78 65 68

280 - Tania Elosegui (ESP) 74 70 67 69, Nina Reis (SWE) 67 69 72 72

281 - Lora Fairclough (ENG) 74 72 69 66, Paula Marti (ESP) 69 74 70 68, Stefania Croce (ITA) 67 68 71 75

282 - Iben Tinning (DEN) 70 69 75 68

283 - Cecilia Ekelundh (SWE) 68 73 70 72

284 - Carmen Alonso (ESP) 70 75 70 69, Georgina Simpson (ENG) 74 70 68 72

285 - Trish Johnson (ENG) 73 71 72 69, Samantha Head (ENG) 76 66 72 71, Karen Lunn (AUS) 75 68 71 71, Laura Davies (ENG) 72 73 65 75

286 - Federica Piovano (ITA) 74 72 72 68, Lisa Hall (ENG) 74 69 70 73

287 - Dana Lacey (AUS) 73 74 71 69, Amy Yang (KOR) 71 71 73 72, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 67 73 72 75

288 - Marta Prieto (ESP) 73 74 72 69

289 - Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 72 71 74 72, Marion Ricordeau (Am) (FRA) 74 74 72 69, Sophie Giquel (FRA) 69 76 71 73, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 70 72 71 76

290 - Rebecca Hudson (ENG) 72 73 74 71, Maria Boden (SWE) 77 70 72 71, Laura Cabanillas (ESP) 73 73 71 73

291 - Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 75 74 69 73, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 72 77 69 73, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 74 73 74, Anna Knutsson (SWE) 70 75 72 74, Christine Hallstrom (SWE) 76 73 72 70, Diana Luna (ITA) 74 74 75 68

292 - Carin Koch (SWE) 74 72 73 73, Natalie Claire Booth (ENG) 72 73 74 73, Emma Zackrisson (SWE) 72 75 74 71, Martina Eberl (GER) 74 75 73 70

293 - Julie Greciet (FRA) 73 69 76 75, Julie Tvede (DEN) 71 73 74 75, Stefanie Michl (AUT) 70 75 73 75, Lynn Brooky (NZ) 76 72 71 74, Vicky Thomas (AUS) 74 75 72 72, Leah Hart (AUS) 71 73 68 81

294 - Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 70 73 75 76, Florence Luscher (SWI) 76 72 78 68

295 - Kate Combes (AUS) 71 74 74 76, Laura Terebey (USA) 73 70 74 78, Jehanne Jail (FRA) 76 71 75 73, Lydia Hall (WAL) 75 74 73 73, Sarah Nicholson (NZ) 78 71 75 71

296 - Lara Tadiotto (BEL) 73 69 76 78, Cherie Byrnes (AUS) 76 70 75 75, Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 76 73 76 71

297 - Kirsty S Taylor (ENG) 73 76 72 76

298 - Ana Larraneta (ESP) 72 76 78 72

299 - Laurette Maritz (SA) 73 73 73 80, Jenna Wilson (SCO) 74 73 74 78, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 72 74 81 72

300 - Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) 73 74 76 77

301 - Nathalie David-Mila (FRA) 73 75 79 74

302 - Rachel Bell (ENG) 73 75 76 78

303 - Miriam Nagl (GER) 75 74 77 77

306 - Valerie Michaud (FRA) 74 75 79 78

RTD - Anne Norman Hansen (DEN) 74 75 RTD RTD, Joanne Mills (AUS) 72 73 RTD RTD, Marina Arruti (ESP) 73 76 79 RTD