Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist wins first Symetra Tour title

HARRIS, Mich. (AP) — Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist won the Island Resort Championship on Sunday at Sweetgrass for her first Symetra Tour title. 

The former University of California player made a 6-foot par putt on the 18th hole for a 2-under 70 and a one-stroke victory over Canada’s Samantha Richdale. 

“I saw the leaderboard and I knew that I had to make it in order to not go to a playoff,” Holmqvist said. “ I’ve been actually practicing those kinds of putts back in my home course in Jupiter.  I end every practice by saying, ‘If I make this putt I’ll win the tournament.’  Ironically, that’s what happened.” 

Holmqvist finished at 10-under 206 and earned $18,750 to jump from 38th to 13th on the money list with $27,272.  The final top 10 will earn 2016 LPGA Tour cards. 

“It still hasn’t quite sunk in but it’s very exciting,” Holmqvist said. 

After dropping strokes on Nos.  6 and 7, Holmqvist birdies Nos.  9, 11 and 12 and closed with six straight pars.  She opened with rounds of 67 and 69. 

Richdale birdied the final hole for a 68.  She played the back nine in 5-under 31. 

Canada’s Brooke Henderson was third at 8 under, making an eagle on the par-4 14th in a 67.  The 17-year-old Henderson won the tour’s Four Winds Invitational last week in South Bend, Indiana. 

She made $8,374, her first official earnings on the tour after being granted an age waiver following her victory. 

“It was fun,” Henderson said. “ There was some good holes and some bad holes, but overall I was hitting the ball well.  I missed a couple of putts the past two days but I made up for it a little bit today.”