CLARE FADES IN FINAL ROUND AS
SPRINGBOK AMATEUR WINS
Clare Queen’s hopes of following up her joint sixth in the ANZ Ladies Masters with another top-10 finish in the Women’s South African Open disappeared over the third and final round at Durban Country Club today (Saturday).
Starting the day in joint seventh place, the 23-year-old Drumpellier player went down rather than up the leaderboard with a closing round of four-over-par 77 for a final total of two-over-par 221.
That gave her a share of 19th place and earned her 3,687 South African Rand.
Victory by five strokes went to the 17-year-old South African wonder girl amateur, Ashleigh Simon. Winner of the title as a 14-year-old, Ashleigh did it again in style, posting a closing round of 72 for a brilliant 14-under-par total of 205.
Runner-up and winner of the first pro prize of 37,500 Rand was compatriot Stacy Bregman with a 69 for 210.
South Africans filled the first four places with another amateur, Kelli Shean in fourth place.
Simon, Bregman (who turned pro later) won the world women’s amateur team championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy in South Africa at the end of last year.
“I am going to turn professional some day but not quite yet,” said Ashleigh Simon.
Defending champion Rebecca Hudson from Wheatley, Doncaster faded from an overnight second place to fifth spot on 215 with a findl round of 215.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3 x 73)
Players from South Africa unless stated.
205 Ashleigh Simon (am) 69 64 72.
210 Stacy Bregman 72 69 69.
211 Laurette Maritz 73 60 68.
213 Kelli Shean (am) 72 71 70.
215 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 69 75.
216 Sophie Walker (Eng) 74 70 72, Morgana Robbertze 68 75 73, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 69 76 71.
217 Antonella Cvitan (Swe) 70 75 72.
218 Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 74 74 70, Marianne Skarpnord (Nor) 76 71 71, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 76 68 74, Nora Angehrn (Swi) 75 70 73.
219 Ana Larraneta (Spa) 74 74 71.
220 Lena Tornevall (Swe) 75 70 75, Margherita Rigon (Ita) 73 71 76, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 72 76 72, Lisa Jean (Aus) 73 71 76.
221 Clare Queen (Sco) 73 71 77, Julie Tvede (Den) 74 75 72, Karen Margrethe Juul (Den) 74 72 75, Anna Becker (Swe) 76 71 74.
222 Sarah Heath (Eng) 74 74 74, Mette Buus (Den) 77 71 74.
223 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 75 72 76, Vicki Traut (am) 76 74 73, Frederique Seeholzer (Swi)73 76 74, Lee-Anne Pace 74 73 76, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 74 71 78.
Other totals:
225 Felicity Johnson) 75 76 74, Jo Clingan (Eng) 75 73 77.
230 Claire Coughlan (Ire) 76 76 78.