• Johnson wins Mt Broughton Classic in style

England’s Felicity Johnson shot a 2nd round 67 to claim her 3rd career victory at the Mt Broughton Ladies Classic today in the Southern Highlands.

Johnson started today’s final round at -7 after a course record equalling 65 yesterday, a shot ahead of Sydney’s Lauren Hibbert, and was off to a quick start this afternoon with an eagle at the par 5 third hole, followed up with a birdie on the par 3 fourth hole to put some distance between herself and the chasing pack. She stumbled at the fifth hole with a bogey after driving into the rough but  bounced back holing a long birdie putt from off the green at the sixth to take a two shot lead over Hibbert, who herself made an early charge making an eagle at the third hole. An untimely bogey at the ninth meant that Hibbert would need to make up a three shot deficit heading into the back nine which was always going to be a tall order given Johnson’s golfing pedigree and experience. Johnson was as solid as a rock coming down the stretch and signed for an impressive 5 under par 67 which gave her a comfortable five stroke win.

Johnson was delighted to break through for her first tournament victory since her win at the 2011 Lacoste French Open. “It feels great to be back in the winner’s circle, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2016. I have worked really hard earlier in the year with my coach in the US Tony Ziegler and it shows that we are working on the right things. I feel like technically I am in a really good place with my game, I am lucky when I am home in the UK my step-dad Paul Johnson to keep a close eye on my game so I am really lucky to have a great team helping me out.”

Johnson who splits her time between the USLPGA and the Ladies European Tour, has been long renowned for her ball striking and would be the first to admit that her putting has been the weakest part of her game “I tried to be more positive on the greens this week and it really helped. I have been working hard on my rhythm and trying to stay more patient which I haven’t done that well in the past. I rolled the ball really well both days and it feel great to finally hole some putts.

Lauren Hibbert’s second place was her career best finish on the ALPG tour, while Sarah Oh finished alone in third place at 5 under. Moss Vale Ladies Classic winner Miriam Nagl finished alone in fourth place.

The tour now takes a three day break before resuming next Thursday at Oatlands GC for the Bing Lee Fujitsu ALPG Ladies Classic.

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