Marianne Skarpnord predicted it wouldn’t be long before Su Oh started winning professional tournaments after holding off a final-day charge from the impressive young Australian to win the Vic Open at Thirteenth Beach.
Skarpnord took a three-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round, but the title was still up for grabs when she and Oh stood on the final tee level at 12-under.
The Norwegian – a three-time winner on the European Ladies Tour – kept her cool to birdie the final hole and finish at 13-under 279.
Oh bogeyed the last after hitting her second shot into a hazard, having gone for broke despite finding a poor lie off the tee.
She slipped into a tie for second with England’s Holly Clyburn at 11-under.
“I was struggling a bit today,” said Skarpnord.
“I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole.
“I had some great chances in the front nine and missed them – on 10 and 11 I had good chances and I just didn’t take them.
“And to be honest I got a bit nervous out there because Su was playing really, really well.
“She is a great player and just fantastic to play with.
“I’m sure it’s not going to take long before she’s got the trophies. She’s going to be really good.”
Oh was playing just her second event since turning professional after a decorated amateur career.
“I started really well and I played well, but I don’t know what happened on the last couple of holes,” said Oh, who carded a final round of one-under 72.
“Marianne played solid all day – she played solid all week.
“It just didn’t go my way I guess in the end.
“It was kind of dead (off the tee on the final hole) but I wasn’t just going to chip out, I was going to go for it.
“I didn’t really care if I come second or third or fourth.
“I gave it a shot and maybe next time I pull it off.
“I am really happy I went for it.”
Playing her first four-round tournament since quitting the US LPGA Tour in 2010 to concentrate on raising her young daughter, Rachel Hetherington shot the lowest final-round of the day – a five-under 68 – to be tied for fourth with fellow Australian Rebecca Artis at eight-under.
Hetherington, 42, won eight events on the US Tour between 1998 and 2003.
