Kelsey Bennett handled the difficult conditions best on Sunday at Magenta Shores enroute to the biggest win of her professional career.
YOU could suggest the golf course was the biggest winner at last month’s Australian Women’s Classic at Magenta Shores on the NSW Central Coast.
Yet Kelsey Bennett would disagree and later admitted she was ‘stoked’ to wake up on Sunday morning before the final round to learn that conditions were destined to be brutal.
The Mollymook professional then went out and had one of the rounds of her life, one of just three rounds under par in the entire field, to secure a four-shot win over English pair Meghan McLaren and Caley McGinty.
Bennett finished with rounds of 66-68-70-71 for the biggest win of her career which also secured her card on the Ladies European Tour.
“I was just stoked to get it done today,” said the South Coast-based 26-year-old.
“This is my biggest and best win so far and I couldn’t be happier.
“It just means I can go to the [Australian] Open and book flights to Adelaide for my Nan now.
“Honestly, I kept saying to my team, I want to get in the Open and the easiest way to do that is to have a win.
“This really solidifies it for the year.”
Bennett celebrated on site with her nan Patsy as well as her mother Lara while her fellow John Serhan pupil Sarah Kemp, one of Bennett’s idols, was on hand to shower her with champagne on the final green.
“I remember first meeting Sarah, I was nervous,” said Bennett.
“So, to be able to call her a mate now, is pretty special.”
Bennett never stopped smiling in that final round and when conditions became tougher with persistent wind and rain she battled bravely with important birdies when it mattered most on the back nine.
“Caley didn’t let up. I knew I had to keep pushing and those two birdies really helped coming in as well.
“When I woke up on Sunday morning and saw the conditions were so tough I knew it was going to be anyone’s title.”
