Singapore international Shannon Tan was crowned the champion of 2024 Ladies European Tour (LET), the Magical Kenya Ladies Open that came to an end today at the Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County.
The 19 year old won her maiden title after firing 3 under par 70 on a total of 12 under par 280 for the title after edging out Italian Alessandra Fanali by four shots.
After the win, she said: “It was close until hole 16 where it was like a one-shot difference… but I stuck to my game plan just trying to hit every fairway and every green I can. That was my game plan throughout the whole day today.”
“I would say I am proud. Juniors back home [now] know that it is possible, and they know anything is possible and I guess it [will] kind of push them a little bit and inspire them,” she said.
With the victory, she pocketed Ksh7.9 million in the order of merit points, and qualify for next week’s prestigious Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF, which has a prize kitty of Sh812 million.
24-year-old Fanali played level par 37 on the first nine courtesy of birdies at the second and seventh holes and bogeys at the fifth and the eighth.
She made a steady start on the back nine, playing bogey-free through the first five holes before holing a birdie at the par-5 15th. She, however, dropped consecutive shots at the 16th and 17th holes for a score of 1-over par 74 for the day; taking her total for the tournament to 8-under par 284.
She will bank Sh4.7 million and earn 320 order of merit points. She will also take part at next week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies tournament.
Fanali, who has five previous top-ten finishes in the Tour, said: “It has been a very good week for me. I am proud of myself, honestly. I came into this week, as I said before, just to try and test my game and see where I was. I am happy about it. I tried it, I gave myself a chance, but my putts didn’t want to go in but it’s okay. Next week is another opportunity and we’ll see what’s going to happen.”
“I think just a couple of more putts would have dropped and it was going to be a lot easier for me to catch up some shots in the last holes but, it is what it is, and probably it wasn’t meant for me. It’s fine.”
There was a five-way share for third place featuring Belgium’s Manon De Roey, Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino, England’s Alice Hewson, Chiara Tamburlini from Switzerland and Nataliya Guseva — who had scores of 4-under par 288.
The Magical Kenya Ladies Open brought together 108 golfers from 36 nationalities among them five Kenyan amateurs.