HOLING a slippery downhill eight-foot birdie putt on the final hole sealed a memorable victory for Belgian Manon De Roey in the Australian Women’s Classic played at Coffs Harbour Golf Club.

After English star Cara Gainer finished with a pair of excellent birdies to hold the clubhouse lead on eight-under par, it all came down to the last hole for De Roey.

Walking toward the final green after producing an excellent 54-degree wedge, De Roey admitted she wasn’t sure whether she had to make birdie or par to win the co-sanctioned Ladies European Tour and the WPGA Tour of Australasia event.

“I was very nervous over the final putt. There were no leaderboards out on the course so I asked my caddy to check for me,” De Roey said.

“I wanted to know if I had to hit it soft to get it up there or hit it hard to try and make the putt. She told me Cara [Gainer] was in at eight-under so I knew I had to make it.

“It felt amazing.”

Thai teenager Cholcheva Wongras finished the week in third on seven-under par.

Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall fired a final-round 66 to share fourth alongside Aussie Sarah Kemp on six-under par. In an incredible comeback story, Kemp returned to action at Coffs Harbour for the first time since breaking her leg seven months ago and set the tournament alight after shooting a spectacular 62 in the second round.

When Kemp holed a long birdie putt to finish her week, there was a loud roar of appreciation from the gallery around Coffs Harbour’s 18th green.

Finishing in fourth position after suffering a compound fracture of her lower right leg in a golf cart accident in July was unexpected for the Forster local.

“Honestly, the goal was to just finish this week,” Kemp said.

“With my leg injury, having had a compound leg fracture seven months ago, I’ve now got some screws in there. So there’s a bit of pain, especially bending down.

“The goal was to just get back into tournament mode and be able to walk 18 holes.”

Wales’ Darcey Harry, Austria’s Emma Spitz, Australia’s Grace Kim and Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova finished the 54-hole tournament in a tie for sixth on five-under par.

But the major celebrations and the lion’s share of the $500,000 prize purse were for De Roey to enjoy. A win that meant so much to her as a player who’s always been a visitor when Ladies European Tour events have been played on the Coffs Coast.

“I love coming to Australia. I’ve been coming here since 2017. Coffs Harbour especially, I have a great host that I stay with,” the 33 year-old said.

“The course was in unbelievable condition after all the rain they had. I’m really happy.”