Belgian golfer Manon De Roey secured her third Ladies European Tour (LET) title with a clutch birdie putt on the final hole at Coffs Harbour Golf Club, overcoming tough conditions to win the 2025 Australian Women’s Classic.
De Roey, 33, delivered an one-under final round of 69 to outlast a strong field, sinking a decisive 10-foot downhill putt on the par-4 18th hole to capture her first-ever victory in Australia. Her winning putt was one of only a handful of birdies recorded on the difficult finishing hole, edging out LET Order of Merit leader, England’s Cara Gainer.
Starting the final round two shots behind Australian veteran and overnight leader Sarah Kemp, De Roey remained steady as challengers came and went throughout the day. Her precision approach shot on the 18th set up the tournament-winning putt, solidifying her sixth professional victory worldwide and first of 2025.
“I’ve been coming to Australia since 2017, and I just love the country – especially Coffs Harbour,” said De Roey. “I’m really happy to get this win here.”
With no leaderboards on the course, De Roey was unaware of the exact stakes until reaching the final green. Battling nerves, she turned to her caddie.
“I was very nervous, and with no leaderboards out there, I asked my caddie to check where I stood,” she explained.
“I needed to know how to hit the putt – just lag it or really go for it. My caddie told me the last player in was at 8-under, so it felt amazing to make that putt.”
Meanwhile, Kemp, coming off a career-best round of 62 the previous day, struggled with a final-round 74. Still recovering from a broken leg sustained in a cart accident last July, Kemp’s movement appeared restricted as she battled through the tough conditions.
Thai sensation Arpo Wongras, 17, ignited excitement early in the round with back-to-back chip-in birdies on holes three and four. However, some errant drives on the back nine prevented her from maintaining momentum. Reflecting on her performance, Wongras emphasised the importance of self-belief.
“You have to build confidence in your game and trust yourself,” she said.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing this event and learning from players like Sarah [Kemp], who we all admire.”
Sydney’s Grace Kim made a late charge with a four-under round of 67, highlighted by six birdies. However, missed opportunities on the back nine, including back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes, kept her from seriously contending for the title.
Korean Hyojin Yang finished as the tournament’s highest-placed amateur, closing with a 71 to finish at four-over, four shots ahead of Sydney’s Rachel Lee.
The tour now moves to Wollongong Golf Club in the heart of the Illawarra region for the highly anticipated Ford Women’s NSW Open.
