Dubai: Welsh golfer Amy Boulden won the Ladies European Tour (LET) Rookie of the Year Award after finishing three-under par, tied for 24th, at the season-ending Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday.
Boulden’s nearest rival in the money list, Scotland’s Sally Watson had to finish inside the top 10 in the hope that Boulden dropped to below 30th. However, Watson finished three-over par tied for 45th.
A third contender for the prize, Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen made a late charge for the best newcomer award but would have needed to finish among the top two in the hope Boulden slipped further behind. However, Larsen finished just short of that requirement at ten under par tied for fifth.
“The Rookie of the Year Award is a massive deal for me,” said Boulden, who shot rounds of 70, 74, 69, 72 for a 285 total. “It was one of my targets at the beginning of the year, so I am absolutely thrilled to have won it.”
On future targets, she added: “Next year I want to go to Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) qualifying school and do another full year on the LET. And I still want to get that first event win, so that’s the goal.”
Both Rookie of the Year Award runners-up Broch Larsen and Watson were gracious in defeat.
“Amy has played really well,” said Broch Larsen, who shot rounds of 71, 70, 66, 71, (278). “Amy, Sally and I – as well as some other rookies – have done very well. It has been a good fight for Rookie of the Year this year. I’m really looking forward to next year now, so hopefully I can be a winner.”
Watson, who carded 76, 70, 68, 77, (291) said: “If someone had asked me a year and a half ago if I thought I would be where I am now, I would have taken it any day.
“At the end of the day I think I’ve finished top 30 in the money list, so for a rookie I can’t complain. Amy was solid out there, it’s great for her, she’s had a fantastic year so all congratulations to her. This just gives me more motivation for the off season to get better and come back stronger.”
