Anne Van Dam of The Netherlands plays her second shot on the par 4, first hole during the final round of the 2017 Dubai Ladies Classic on the Majlis Course at The Emirates Golf Club, on December 9, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Anne Van Dam picks up 4th pro victory at Canberra
Anne Van Dam picked up her 4th pro victory at the Canberra Classic and jumped to the top of the European Solheim Cup points rankings ~
Anne Van Dam held off defending champion Jiyai Shin and Slovenia’s Katja Pogacar to notch her 4th pro victory at the ALPG-LET co-sanctioned ActewAGL Canberra Classic.
Van Dam and Shin started the final round sharing the lead at 11-under par. It wasn’t until the final holes that Van Dam fired off a string of birdies that took her to victory.
Van Dam’s victory was certainly not assured as she started the final Canberra Classic round. Behind Shin and Pogacar, Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and Scotland’s Carly Booth were both pressing for an advantage.
Van Dam described her building momentum as the round unfolded:
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It gave me so much confidence that I knew I could birdie every hole here. I just had to stay patient, trust my long game and I was really happy with the way I putted.
In the end, Van Dam’s 17-under final score put her three strokes clear of Pogacar and four ahead of Korea’s Shin when the last putt dropped. It was a stunning win for the long-hitting Dutchwoman and it boosted her to the top of the European Solheim Cup points rankings.
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The Ladies European Tour goes now to New South Wales and the Women’s NSW Open, where Caroline Hedwall, Meghan Maclaren, and Florentyna Parker will headline the field and be on the hunt for a victory that could boost their standings in Europe’s Solheim Cup points rankings.
Although the final field for the Founders Cup hasn’t been published, it would make sense that Van Dam will be heading to the United States and her rookie year LPGA debut. With only the Founders Cup and the Kia Classic remaining before the Tour’s first major of the season, the ANA Inspiration, the long-hitting Van Dam needs to start firing up her game for the next big challenge.
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