A two-shot swing on the penultimate hole has delivered Mollymook’s Kelsey Bennett a two-stroke win at the 2025 Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Dubbo Golf Club.

A day after celebrating her one-year wedding anniversary with a share of the lead, fellow South Coast product Danni Vasquez Boyd continued to hold a front-running position for the majority of Round 2.

After Bennett made bogey at the par-4 16th – her third in the space of six holes – Vasquez Boyd stood on the 17th tee with a one-stroke advantage.

Her tee shot finished in a dry dirt patch right of the fairway but Vasquez Boyd fashioned a brilliant approach shot as Bennett eyed birdie from close range.

Putting from the top tier, Vasquez Boyd took three putts on her way to a bogey as Bennett stepped in and converted from six feet to flip the script.

With Kathryn Norris needing to chip in for birdie at the par-3 18th to post 3-under, Vasquez Boyd made a second bogey in succession, paving the way for Bennett to clinch victory with a closing par.

A winner on the LET Access Series in September, Bennett now has a spot in the Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned Ford Women’s NSW Open at Wollongong Golf Club in March.

Headed for Morocco next week to contest LET Qualifying School, the 24-year-old hopes to be a full member of the LET by the time she tees it up in Wollongong.

“I’m stoked. I grew up playing a lot of golf there, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Bennett said of her return to Wollongong.

“I’ll be heading to LET Q School again to try and better my status for next year and give myself a full season on the LET.”

With rounds of 70-71, Bennett’s total of 3-under gave her a two-stroke cushion from Vasquez Boyd (74), Norris (72) and Cecilia Cho (72), Cho securing her spot at Wollongong on a countback.

“I feel very lucky to get this position,” said Cho, a two-time winner this year on the WPGA Tour of Australasia.

“This was a good opportunity to check my game because I know the course and what shots I needed to hit.

“I kind of fought back with some birdies on the back nine and just feeling lucky to be in this position.”

It is Bennett’s third win of the year to go with her LET Access Series victory and triumph at The Athena in February and one to savour given it is her first in her home state of New South Wales.

“It’s definitely really special. Being from a part of regional NSW myself, it’s really nice to support the local towns and come out here and find myself a winner,” she said.

“I was a few years behind most of the girls growing up, simply just from being from regional NSW. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Honestly, coming out here is unbelievable because I have my sponsors, Regional Australia Bank, so I can’t thank them enough for the support they give me and these events.”

The next Regional Qualifying Event is set to take place at Bathurst Golf Club with Round 1 teeing off on Thursday.

The 2025 Ford Women’s NSW Open Golf Championship and 2024/5 Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series are proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.