From left: Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, Ariya Jutanugarn, winner of the Lalla Meryem Cup and His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, President of the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association |
Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn secured her first professional title at the Lalla Meryem Cup after a battle of the teenagers in Agadir.
The 17-year-old rookie from Bangkok, who won the LET’s Lalla Aicha Tour School in Marrakech in December, again displayed her remarkable talent when she came from a stroke behind overnight leader Charley Hull to earn a three stroke victory with rounds of 69, 67, 67 and 67 for a 14 under par total at the par-71 Golf de l’Ocean. This was only her fourth start on the LET since winning the LET’s Lalla Aicha Tour School in Marrakech in December backing up her status of one of the new generation of superstars in women’s golf. Prior to her victory she had also finished second earlier this year to Inbee Park at the Honda LPGA Thailand and fourth at the HSBC Champions in Singapore.
Both Jutanugarn and Hull attended the LET’s Lalla Aicha Tour School in December, but it was Jutanugarn who took home the winner’s cheque for €48,750. She moved to the top of the LET’s ISPS Handa Order of Merit and is expected to move up from 42nd in the Rolex World Rankings when they are released on Monday morning.
When asked how she would spend the money, she replied: “It’s all for my dad! I’m going to keep playing on the European Tour and I hope to win some more.” However she will always treasure the ornate diamond encrusted purse which she was also given as her prize.