Law and Boutier hold their nerve to win Vic Open

STEADY nerves at the right time saw two new names added to the trophies awarded at the end of the weekend’s Vic Open.

Scotsman David Law nailed an eagle on the 18th to stay in contention, and his decision to risk it all proved crucial as previous leader Wade Ormsby double bogeyed the 17th and then narrowly missed a putt for eagle to force a playoff, leaving Law in front.

“I mean, when we were three holes to play, we said we were going to try to finish 3 2 4 in the hope that really we could get a top three finish,” Law said of his mindset on playing the 18th hole.

“Then birdie 16, par 17, and going down the last we said we need eagle. We make eagle, we post at 18 under, you never know what can happen.

“I was kind of in between clubs, in between a hybrid and a 4 iron, and in a normal week you probably just hit the 4, take the two putts from the front of the green. But we needed to make three, so I took some off it and it came out perfect.”

In the women’s tournament, Celine Boutier started two strokes behind leader Kim Kaufman, but played an even-par 72 to win by two strokes and rack up her first victory on the LPGA tour.

Boutier said she struggled a little on the front nine as she was playing in the same group as the leader, but felt better about her chances as the day went on.

“I was too much focused on the other players in my group were doing and so I just feel like they weren’t playing that well and so I feel like I sort of kept my guard down a little bit.

“I tried to focus more on my own game and didn’t really look at the leaderboard that much, especially on the back nine, I think that helped me out.”