Lisa Pettersson was the toast of the town as she posted a Sunday five-under 67 to claim her first Ladies European Tour title at the Helsingborg Open.

The 27-year-old started the last day one shot behind the second-round leaders, Nicole Garcia and Ana Pelaez Trivino.

It took another 16 holes for her to tie for the lead with Pelaez Trivino. She finally won with a dramatic eagle.

Playing in the second-last group, Pettersson made 35 over the first nine, before her after-the-turn charge brought her home in 32.

After setting the clubhouse target at 11-under-par, she faced a nerve-racking wait on the practice putting green as Pelaez Trivino, who had led all day, played the last hole. The Spaniard needed an eagle to win outright or a birdie to force a play-off, but her third shot, a chip from the front of the green, checked up six feet short of the hole. Then, her birdie putt slipped agonisingly past the left side. The resulting par, and a final round score of 69, was enough for Pettersson to win.

“I don’t think it has sunk in yet to be honest. I don’t really know what happened out there. I’m in shock, but it feels good,” she said. “I obviously like playing at home and it was really, really fun. I really like playing in Sweden. Even though I’m not from Helsingborg, I still feel the support.

“I hit a really good drive on 18 and I told my caddie, (Philip Axelsson) who’s my boyfriend, that it was the last drive of the tournament and it was nice to finish with a good drive. Then I had about 180 metres left, and I hit a 5-iron to about two metres, or eight feet, and the putt went in.

“I just tried to hit a good putt. I was nervous but I didn’t know what it would lead to, so I was thinking I would try to finish with a good putt for my own score.

“I haven’t been in this position before. I came second twice last season, but I didn’t get to play in a play-off, so I didn’t know exactly how I should handle it. I was just waiting to see what would happen. I tried to hit some putts and stay loose and warm. When she didn’t make it, it was surreal. I didn’t quite realise that it meant that I had won.

“I skipped one of my best friends’ weddings this week to play in this event. She was understanding but I’m sure she will understand even more now.”

Pelaez Trivino occupied solo second place after another solid performance for her fifth top 10 finish of the season.

“I knew I had to fight to the last hole and that’s what I did. This is golf. She played great today. I played very good golf today too, but it just wasn’t quite enough,” she said.

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