Rebecca Artis's title hopes drown in Swiss lake

THREE rounds in the lead amounted to nothing for Australian golfer Rebecca Artis on the final day of the Ladies Swiss Open in Ticino.

Rebecca-Artis

THREE rounds in the lead amounted to nothing for Australian golfer Rebecca Artis on the final day of the Ladies Swiss Open in Ticino.

Needing a birdie at the par-five last to tie for the clubhouse lead and make a play-off with three other women, Artis hooked her second shot into the lake short of the green and ended with a double-bogey seven.

Her final round of 74 meant a total of nine under par, three shots off the lead shared by German duo Anja Monke, Caroline Masson and Carly Booth of Scotland.

Booth eventually won with an eagle 3 on the fourth play-off hole

Artis (64 71 70 74) finished in a share of eighth place after having either led or co-led after the first three rounds at Golf Gerre Losone.

It was a costly mistake as a simple par would have seen the likeable 23-year-old from Coonabarabran in New South Wales end in fourth spot.

The mistake cost her about $A19,000 and she now lies in 30th place on the Ladies European Tour order of merit.

Artis started well by making birdies at the second and fifth and was a stroke clear of the field on 13 under after seven holes. However, she bogeyed the ninth and 13th before taking the double on 18.

"That's golf," said Artis, who nevertheless recorded a career-best finish in three seasons on the LET.