SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Canada’s Nicole Vandermade won the Four Winds Invitational on Sunday for her first Symetra Tour title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory.
Vandermade, from Brantford, Ont., had a 12-under 204 total at Blackthorn Golf Club. The 24-year-old former University of Texas player and Team Canada member earned $22,500 to jump from 90th to eighth on the money list with $26,278, with the final top 10 earning 2015 LPGA Tour cards.
“I’m so grateful to everyone that has been supportive of me for the last two years and for my career.” Vandermade said. “This means so much at the moment. It definitely hasn’t been the easiest road to get here so I think it makes this moment even sweeter. I’m just going to enjoy this.”
Lee Lopez was second after a 70. Jackie Stoelting and Jaclyn Jansen tied for second at 9 under. Stoelting finished with a 65, and Jansen shot 67.
Vandermade had a tap-in eagle on the par-5 16th, followed with a par on the par-3 17th and closed with a bogey on the par-4 18th.
“On 16, I knew that it was my moment to be aggressive and I hit a good one,” Vandermade said. “On 17, I just missed the green and then chipped it really close, to within a few inches so that was nice to have an easy par. On 18, I drove it in the rough and I just told myself to hit it up there near the green. Unfortunately, I didn’t make my par putt, but I didn’t need to.”
Other Canadians in the mix were Erica Rivard of Tecumseh, Ont., who finished 12th at 5-under 211. Kelowna, B.C.’s finished 25th at 3-under 211. Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Ont. even par at 216 and tied for 45th with Sara Maude-Juneau of Fossambault-sur-le-Lac, Que. Danielle Mills of Montreal tied for 72nd at 6-over 222.