Carriedo continues to impress

Appearances can be deceptive. Raquel Carriedo is but a slim, slip of a thing, yet she has managed to impose giant-like footprints all over the Women's European Tour this season.

In claiming the Waterford Crystal Irish Open at Faithlegg yesterday, in sunshine more reminiscent of her homeland, the Spaniard made a statement of supreme authority.

Not only did her final-round 66 for a total of 200 equal the lowest- ever aggregate for a 54-hole tournament on the European circuit, but it was her third win of the season and ensured that she will head off to the United States later this week for the USLPGA Tour's qualifying school as the undisputed European number one. The Order of Merit title is now well and truly wrapped up.

"I really wanted that Order of Merit because it means that I can play in all four majors next year," said Carriedo, who had to fend off some high-powered challengers to take her latest title.

Sophie Gustafson, who has made something of a habit of winning on Irish soil, came up short in her attempts to claim a hat-trick of Irish Open titles although a final round 65 had Carriedo glancing nervously at the leaderboards sprinkled around the course.

Indeed, on a sunny day with just a hint of a breeze creating near- perfect golfing conditions, and on a course in superb condition, the players responded with some superb scoring.

Gustafson made the most dramatic charge, to finish just one shot adrift, but former world number one Laura Davies - who had caused some disgruntlement with her comment on Saturday that the tournament was being played in the "middle of nowhere" with more "cows and sheep" than people, particularly as she was being paid a five-figure promotional fee to be there - also finished with a 65 that propelled her to tied-third position beside Ana Belen Sanchez, two shots behind the winner.

So far this year, Carriedo had won twice - in the Taiwan Open and the Compaq Open - and also finished in the top-five on four other occasions.

Yesterday, she demonstrated great fortitude down the straight. On the 17th, where she had used a five-iron off the tee followed by a five-wood approach, she went with a three-wood off the tee and made a comfortable par.

However, that still left her level with Gustafson - who made her move by eagling the 15th and adding a further birdie on the 17th - as she walked to the 18th tee-box. The adrenalin was pumping, and resulted in her longest drive of the day.

In fact, the ball actually bounced beside her boyfriend Javier Gimenez (witnessing her win a tournament for the first time) and then onto the fairway and left her with just 101 yards.

"When I heard the yardage, I was very happy. It's the perfect yardage for me for a punched wedge shot," said Carriedo. The shot itself was sublime. It pitched just three inches from the cup and finished a mere 18 inches away.

She rolled in the birdie putt (her sixth of the day without a dropped shot) and rose her clenched fist to the skies in triumph, and soaked in the appreciative applause of the largest crowds of the tournament gathered by the final green. She earned £20,000 for winning.

From the back of the clubhouse, by the recorder's hut, Gustafson heard the roar and knew immediately that her chance of a play-off had slipped away.

The Swede, a previous winner of the Irish Open in 1998 and 2000, had made a fantastic charge that was kick-started by birdies at the opening two holes and also had birdie chances on the next three holes that refused to drop.

Having turned in 32, she came back in 33 and had a 15-foot birdie chance on the last which would have put her into the lead (at that time, as Carriedo was in the group behind) but it stubbornly refused to drop.

For the Irish, however, it proved to be an exasperating final day.

Aideen Rogers finished with a 71 for 217 - helped by a chip-in birdie on the 16th - for tied-36th, while Debbie Hanna, making a rare appearance on the circuit, closed with a 72 for 218.

Suzanne O'Brien had a nightmare front nine, turning in 40 and remarking that "I had the L-plates on", before recovering somewhat to finish with a 77 for 220.

Meanwhile, Australian Rebecca Coakley, who plays out of Carlow in the summer months, had a final round 75 for 217 to take the amateur prize.