FINNISH GIRL SCORES FIRST WIN
AS PROFESSIONAL IN SOUTH
AFRICAN WPGA MASTERS

Finland’s Kaisa Ruuttila claimed a victory in only her second tournament as a professional and while on a short holiday away from her studies when she won the South African WPGA Masters at Waterkloof Golf Club, Pretoria today.
Ruuttila, 23, produced a final round of 69 to win with a seven-under-par total of 209, finishing three strokes clear of runner-up Julie Tvede.
Ruuttila started the final round two behind overnight leader Tvede, but worked her way into a three-stroke lead with four holes to play.
Then a three-putt for bogey by the Finn on the short 15th and Tvede’s birdie there saw Kaisa suddenly fighting to protect a one-stroke lead.
She missed a three-footer for birdie on the 16th, but then finished strongly with back-to-back birdies to take the title.
SPORTS INSTRUCTOR STUDIES
"I am very happy to have won so early in my career,” said Ruuttila, who turned professional only last November. She attended the Ladies European Tour’s Qualifying School and finished 29th, just outside the top 28 who gain full playing privileges on the Tour.
But it will qualify her for a certain number of tournaments.
“I am going back to Finland now to resume my studies as a sports instructor, and then I’m hoping to join the Ladies European Tour in May when I should get quite a few starts,” said Ruuttila who collected 37,500 Rand for her maiden victory as a professional.
Eleanor Pilgrim from Wales earned 15,666 Rand for a share of third place.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
209 Kaisa Ruuttila 71 69 69.
212 Julie Tvede 71 67 74.
215 Ashleigh Simon (am) 71 73 71, Kelli Shean (am) 72 71 72, Hanna-Leena Salonen 72 72 71, Eleanor Pilgrim(Wa) 72 71 72, Lee-Anne Pace 72 70 73.
216 Johanna Westerberg 72 74 70, Marianne Skarpnord 71 75 70, Morgana Robbertze 71 71 74, Amanda Moltke-leth 73 70 73, Lisa Jean 75 72 69.
217 Sophie Walker (Eng) 72 71 74, Rebecca Hudson 71 70 76, Michelle De Vries 74 73 70, Nora Angehrn 72 74 71.
218 Florence Luscher 76 70 72, Stacy Bregman 70 74 74.
219 Laurette Maritz 75 73 71.
220 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 75 74 71.
221 Emelie Svenningsson 74 76 71, Maria Ohlsson 71 74 76, Elin Ohlsson 75 73 73, Antonella Cvitan 77 75 69.
222 Natou Soro 72 75 75, Jo Clingan 74 74 74, Maria Boden 75 75 72, Anna Becker 73 76 73.
223 Frederique Seeholzer 80 72 71.
224 Lena Tornevall 70 79 75, Mercia Pretorius 75 74 75, Angie Green 76 76 72, Martina Gillen (Ire) 75 70 79.
225 Emma Zackrisson 75 78 72.
226 Suzette Venter 76 73 77, Frederique Dorbes 77 74 75.
227 Leandri Pieterse 75 79 73, Santie Koch 79 75 73, Madeleine Holmblad 75 78 74.
228 Hanna-Sophia Svenningsson 78 76 74, Viva Schlasberg 75 78 75, Monja Richards 78 77 73, Zuzana Kamasova 80 72 76, Sohvi Harkonen 77 75 76, Claire Coughlan (Ire) 77 76 75.
229 Lill-Kristin Saether 78 75 76, Mandy Adamson 76 75 78.
230 Felicity Johnson (Eng) 78 72 79, Sarah Heath (Eng) 79 76 75, Shelley McKevitt (Eng) 74 81 76.
231 Jehanne Jail 78 77 76, Andrea Hirschorn 74 79 78, Elin Brask 78 75 78, Julie Berton 77 76 78.
Other score:
237 Vanessa Bell 77 79 80.
NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED (157 and over)
159 Cheryl Smith (Eng) 78 81, Kelly Hutcherson (Eng) 79 90.
169 Jessica Wycherley (Sco) (am) 86 83.