West Australian Kirsten Rudgeley came up agonisingly short of a maiden Ladies European Tour title after suffering a playoff defeat at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Golf Barriere.

Four shots back of Switzerland’s Chiari Tamburlini at the start of the third and final round, Rudgeley took advantage of the leader’s struggles with a back-nine surge to take the outright lead.

Boasting five top-five finishes in her two years on the LET, Rudgeley made birdies at 11, 12, 15 and 16 to apply the blowtorch to Tamburlini.

Winner of the Joburg Ladies Open earlier in the season, the Swiss rookie responded with a brilliant approach to set up birdie at the par-3 17th before parring the last to match Rudgeley’s total of 7-under par,

The pair headed back to the 18th hole where Tamburlini holed the winning putt after Rudgeley’s birdie try came up just short.

Tamburlini came within a whisker of winning in spectacular fashion when her approach shot at the playoff hole spun back past the hole before settling seven feet away.

Rudgeley did well to hit the green after pulling her drive left but with her birdie effort failing to get the full distance, Tamburlini was able to hole her putt for victory.

Rudgeley’s career-best finish elevates her to 10th on the LET Order of Merit and within reach of an LPGA Tour card that is awarded to the top four finishers at season’s end.

It was a strong week too for fellow Aussie Kelsey Bennett, who finished tied for seventh to enhance her chances of a full LET card in 2025.

Photo: Tristan Jones/LET

Ladies European Tour
Lacoste Ladies Open de France
Golf Barriere, Deauville, France
1          Chiara Tamburlini         68-67-71—206 €56,250
Won on the first hole of sudden death playoff
2          Kirsten Rudgeley          66-73-67—206 €33,750
T7        Kelsey Bennett             71-71-68—210 €9,150
T52      Momoka Kobori (NZ)   73-74-72—219 €1,650
MC       Whitney Hillier             70-79—149