German rookie Ann-Kathrin Lindner claimed her first victory in only her seventh start on the Ladies European Tour as she came from two strokes behind overnight leader Anaïs Maggetti to claim the Honma Pilsen Golf Masters.

The 25-year-old from Hannover had three birdies in a final round 69 at Golf Park Plzn in the Czech Republic to set the target at 12-under-par.

The leading Aussies are Victorians Alison Whitaker and Stacey Keating, both tied at 6th place with 9 under. Alison Whitaker finished strong with a 2 under (69) final round and Stacey Keating maintained a consistent form with a final round 1 under (70).

Off the other Australians, Sarah Kemp is one shot behind, tied 11th with 8 under total, Bree Arthur is tied 23rd with 6 under total and Nikki Garrett is tied 26th with a 6 under total.

“I didn’t expect anything,” said Lindner, who earned 37,500 euro and moved to 18th place on the LET ISPS HANDA Order of Merit. “It was my dream to turn pro and play here. I really enjoy playing on the Ladies European Tour. It’s such great fun for me and everybody is so nice to me; I’m enjoying it.”

In her post round interview, Lindner revealed that she had learned from the experience of playing alongside eventual champion Karrie Webb and Christina Kim in the final round of the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in England a fortnight ago, where she had opened with rounds of 66 and 69 but finished with a disappointing 80 to slip into a share of 41st position.

Lindner is the third rookie to win on the Ladies European Tour this season, after Ariya Jutanugarn in Morocco and Holly Clyburn in Holland and this is a major boost for golf in Germany as the country prepares to host The 2015 Solheim Cup. Lindner worked in the office at St. Leon-Rot for two-and-a-half years whilst on the German national team and practised there in the evenings. She hopes to qualify for The Solheim Cup when the event is played at her home club.

Next week, she will be watching closely as Europe’s women attempt to defend The Cup at Colorado Golf Club and win for the first time in the United States.