Hauert takes dramatic win in Finland

Germany’s Bettina Hauert secured her second Ladies European Tour victory after a dramatic and rain-soaked final round at the Finnair Masters in Finland.

The 25-year-old carded rounds of 68, 67 and 72 to finish with a six-under-par aggregate of 207.

Her three-stroke victory over Sweden’s Johanna Westerberg at the Helsinki Golf Club was the perfect warm-up for her debut appearance on the European Solheim Cup team in 12 days’ time.

Lotta Wahlin from Sweden took third with a two-under-par 211 aggregate score, while English teenager Kiran Matharu and Asa Gottmo, also from Sweden, tied for fourth on one under par.

Difficult winds and frequent showers played their part in the day’s action, with the lead shifting several times between Hauert, Westerberg and Finnish 23-year-old Kaisa Ruuttila.

Hauert got off to the worst possible start, taking an eight at the par-four first hole. Having begun the day with a four-stroke lead on seven under, she hit her first tee-shot out of bounds.

She then took three shots to reach the green with her second ball before three-putting to wipe out her lead and draw level with Ruuttila. The Finn, a first year Tour player, then took control with a birdie at the third.

Despite being encouraged by a chorus of cheers from the home galleries, she dropped four shots in three holes from the fifth to drop to level par.

Westerberg seized the advantage after birdies at the seventh and ninth holes, emerging one stroke ahead of Hauert.

But the German lived up to her reputation for playing well under pressure, firing three birdies in a row from the 12th to snatch the lead from Westerberg, who triple-bogeyed the 12th.

The Swede responded with a couple of birdies, but it was not enough to threaten Hauert.

Despite making a late bogey at the 16th she signed off with a birdie at the last to take her second title of 2007 following her victory at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open in May.

“A rollercoaster is the best word to describe it,” said Hauert.

“I started very bad and I was fighting my way all the time. Finally I found my rhythm and was calm. I was swinging calmer.

“I found my way back in the game and I found a level. It was really exciting to get to the 18th with a two shot lead.

“After the first hole where I hit it out of bounds I thought this is going to be a long day at the office. I’m really glad I got my game back and I finished with a birdie on 18.”