Shannon Tan from Singapore was crowned the champion of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open during a final showdown in Vipingo, Kilifi, on Sunday, February 11, 2024.
The 19-year-old carded a final round of 3 under par 70 to take her total score for the tournament to 12 under par 280. She edged out her closest challenger, Alessandra Fanali from Italy, by four shots to seal her fantastic debut win on the tour and become Singapore’s first LET winner.
Tan had a hot start to her final round, holing three birdies in the first five holes before dropping a shot at the par-five sixth. She immediately recovered that shot in the par-5 seventh with a birdie before dropping another shot in the par-3 eighth to card a total of 35 on the first nine. She played bogey-free on the back nine, holing a birdie at the par-5 11th for a total of 35.
Shannon went to the Lalla Aicha Q-School in Morocco in December last year for the experience but ended up finishing in the top 20, securing her full LET card, and thereafter making the decision to turn pro.
Cash prize
Tan will go home with Ksh7.9 million (€45,000), earn 500 LET order of merit points, and qualify to play at next week’s prestigious Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF, whose prize kitty is Ksh812 million (USD 5 million).
Fanali played a level par 37 on the first nine, courtesy of birdies at the second and seventh holes and bogeys at the fifth and eighth. She made a steady start to 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.
The 24-year-old Italian will get Ksh4.7 million as a runner-up, earn 320 order of merit points, and will also take part in next week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies tournament.
Meanwhile, 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 all ended their challenge in Vipingo with scores of 4-under par 288 to complete the podium places.
The 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open teed off for the fourth edition of the event at the PGA Baobab Course in Vipingo Ridge on Thursday this week, bringing together 108 golfers, among them five Kenyan amateurs.
