Anna Rossi

Italian Anna Rossi won her first professional title on the LET Access Series, the Azores Ladies Open, held at Golf de Batalha, in San Miguel on Sunday.

The 26-year old Italian benefited from the cancellation of the third and final day, due to cyclonic winds that were felt in the Azorean island of Sao Miguel.

A decade ago, a similar situation affected the Open de Portugal at Vale do Lobo and also the 2005 World Cup at Vilamoura. Anna Rossi totaled 147 strokes, 3 over par, after rounds of 73 and 74, followed by Scot Pamela Prestwell with 149 (+5), with scores of 75 and 74, and Belgian Bénédicte Toumpsin with 151 (+7), 77 and 74.

"It's probably the most important title of my career because I’ve never won any on the Ladies European Tour or LETAS. I won two events on the circuit in Sweden in 2009. This was my hardest victory because I've never played in such difficult conditions, "said Anna Rossi, who pocketed a prize of 3387 euros and thanked the Italian Golf Federation for their support over the last six years and also her boyfriend.

The Italian, 26, who finished 7th in the Portugal Ladies Open in 2007, gained 5000 points taking her to 16th on the current Order of Merit.

With only two tournaments left on LETAS this year, Rossi knows it will be difficult to finish the season in the top-3 of the Order of Merit thereby accessing the LET in 2013. This success in the Azores Ladies Open, was especially important to gain confidence for LET Tour School. Scot Pamela Prestwell received 3700 points and moved to the top of the Order of Merit ahead of Frenchwoman Marion Ricordeau, who chose not to come to the Azores, deciding to play in the Lacoste Open de France Feminin, where she missed the cut.

Amateur Sofia Camara was the best Portuguese player finishing tied for 19th, 158 (+14),  with rounds of 80 and 78, being only the third Portuguese player to make the cut on the LET or LETAS, after Catanho Carolina and Monia Bernardo in previous editions of the Portugal Ladies Open.