Australia’s Minjee Lee secured her second Ladies European Tour victory with a play-off victory at the OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic.
World No.9 Lee, the highest ranked players in the field, posted a three-under 69 under the floodlights at Emirates Golf Club to finish on 10 under alongside France’s Celine Boutier, who led for most of the day until a late bogey saw her post a closing 68.
The play-off took place on the par-four 18th of the Faldo course, with both players needing to sink tough putts to win the contest. Whereas Boutier came up short with a 30-foot birdie effort, Lee sunk a 20-footer to secure the win on the first extra hole.
Commenting on her final putt, Lee said: “I couldn’t really see the break too well on the last hole, but I thought it would be about two cups outside the right and luckily I hit it hard enough and it dropped. It feels pretty special to be here playing at night-time and the course has been amazing It’s been a really fun week.”
She added: “I didn’t really see the scores until I had a couple of holes left and then I ended up making a bogey on the 15th, so I stopped looking. Then my caddie told me what the score was on the last hole and I realised I was tied and had a chance of winning.”
Reflecting on her first Moonlight Classic appearance and playing under the floodlights, Lee concluded: “This year has been tough, but this is a nice way to close it out. I’ve really enjoyed the format and everything about the week, my second time playing night golf was certainly memorable.”
Swede Caroline Hedwall finished tied third, a shot back alongside 2019 Moonlight Classic winner Nuria Iturrioz and Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck. England’s Megan Maclaren finished sixth, one shot ahead of Bronte Law and Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald. Georgia Hall finished tied 10th after a closing 65.