Tuesday 16 December 2014 11:23, UK
Charley Hull has become the youngest ever golfer to clinch the Order of Merit title on the Ladies European Tour, after posting a closing 72 to finish in a tie for fifth place at the season-ending Omega Dubai Masters – a tournament won easily by China’s Shanshan Feng.
The 18-year-old from Kettering’s only challenger for the honour during the final week of the season was French player Gwladys Nocera who needed to finish inside the top four to stand any chance of denying Hull the coveted crown.
Hull made a dreadful start to her final round at Emirates Golf Club when she opened with a double-bogey six.
However, the teenager responded in true champion's style by birdieing the second and third holes to steady any nerves she may have had.
The remainder of her round yielded as many birdies as bogeys, and a solid nine pars in her final 10 holes.
Hull finished up nine shots behind winner Feng and, more importantly, two ahead of Nocera.
“It's good to win,” said Hull. “I didn't really know coming into this week. Yeah, just the back nine today, I just thought don't make any silly mistakes. I doubled the first but got two birdies on the bounce back so pretty happy with myself there.
“I went double, birdie, birdie, bogey, birdie. So it was an interesting front nine. But towards the end of the back nine, I really got the feeling with my woods off the tee.
"I started feeling so much more confident. Just working on getting a bit more width on my swing. I definitely feel a lot more confident.”
Nocera, 39, carded a second straight 71 which featured three birdies and a brace of bogeys.
Meanwhile, Feng, who led by five shots overnight, had more or less secured the trophy by reaching the turn in a three-under-par 32.
And despite a return journey of 38, she had done enough to win by five strokes from Spaniard Carlota Ciganda.
"I was told there is only one player who has won this tournament twice, and that is Annika Sorenstam and me. Any time you are on any list along with Annika, you know you have done pretty good," said Feng, who also won in Dubai in 2012.
"I did not have much pressure on me today as I was five shots ahead, so I just set myself a target of 22 under.
"I thought I would beat my own record, and that it would be a total that would be difficult for anybody else in the field to catch. It did not happen, but I am very happy still."
English golfer Melissa Reid, who was in second spot after 54 holes, fell away on Saturday with a 74, after falling five over for the round through 10 holes.
Elsewhere, Amy Boulden of Wales collected Rookie of the Year honours after finishing in a share of 24th spot following a 72.
“It’s been a really great first season on the Ladies European Tour,” said Boulden. “It was one of my goals from when I turned pro, to win Rookie of the Year.
"I thought it was going to be quite tough this year not having a full card. I wasn't sure how many events I was going to be playing in but starting the year well has helped me a lot.
"It’s a real honour to win and join the prestigious list of former winners, including Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and Charley Hull.”
Sky Sports News HQ will look back at Charley Hull's year in Sportswomen at 11.30am on Tuesday.