Soenderby wins MCB Ladies Classic as Indian golfers fade in final round
Synopsis
Denmark's Smilla Tarning Soenderby sealed her second Ladies European Tour title with a decisive birdie on the 18th at the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic. India's three-player contingent — Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik, and Hitaashee Bakshi — squandered early promise, all three sliding down the leaderboard on Day 3 to finish outside the top 20. The tournament highlighted the gap between opening-round steadiness and closing-day execution in elite women's golf.
Key Takeaways
Smilla Tarning Soenderby (Denmark) won the MCB Ladies Classic at 14-under-par with a final-round 67 .
Diksha Dagar finished tied 21st after rounds of 68, 69, 74 ; Tvesa Malik tied 38th with 70, 71, 73 ; Hitaashee Bakshi tied 58th with 71, 69, 76 .
Kajsa Arwefjäll (Sweden) and Casandra Alexander (South Africa) shared second at 13-under-par .
Anna Zanusso (Italy) shot a course-low 63 for solo fourth place.
The Ladies European Tour resumes with the Amundi German Masters in Hamburg from 14–17 May .
Port Louis, Mauritius, 4 May 2026 — Denmark's Smilla Tarning Soenderby claimed her second Ladies European Tour title at the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic, finishing at 14-under-par after a composed final-round 67. The Indian contingent, which had promised strong early performances, faltered on Day 3, with all three players sliding down the leaderboard.
Indian trio's final-round struggles
Diksha Dagar ended tied 21st after carding 68, 69, 74, her closing round derailed by dropped shots on holes 1, 10, and 15 despite a birdie on the ninth. Tvesa Malik posted 70, 71, 73 to finish tied 38th, while Hitaashee Bakshi suffered the steepest decline, shooting 71, 69, 76 to slip to tied 58th. The trio's inability to sustain early momentum proved costly in a field where consistency on the back nine determined final positions.
Soenderby's decisive finish
Soenderby's victory hinged on a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole at the Legend Course, Constance Belle Mare Plage. Her round unfolded in contrasting phases — a bogey on the fourth followed by an eagle on the sixth, then birdies on the ninth and 10th to climb into contention. She steadied with another birdie on the 13th, weathered a bogey on the 14th, and closed with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 18th. Her mother Kirsten served as her caddie throughout the tournament.
Podium and standout performances
Sweden's Kajsa Arwefjäll and South Africa's Casandra Alexander shared second place at 13-under-par. Arwefjäll posted a bogey-free 66, while Alexander matched the score with a strong closing stretch featuring a birdie on the 16th and an eagle on the 18th. Italy's Anna Zanusso fired a course-low 63 — the tournament's lowest round — to claim solo fourth. A five-player tie for fifth at 10-under-par included Alice Hewson, Agathe Laisne, Kirsten Rudgeley, Alexandra Forsterling, and Celina Sattelkau.
What's ahead
The Ladies European Tour pauses for one week before resuming with the Amundi German Masters in Hamburg from 14–17 May. For the Indian contingent, the tournament serves as a reset ahead of the European swing's next leg.
Point of View
Suggesting either course acclimation issues or pressure management gaps. Dagar, in particular, had the credentials to challenge for a top-10 finish but stumbled with three dropped shots. For the Ladies European Tour, Soenderby's composed back-nine performance — eagle, two birdies, and a decisive 18th — underscores that majors are won on the finishing holes, not the opening tees.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2026 MCB Ladies Classic in Mauritius?
Denmark's Smilla Tarning Soenderby won the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic at 14-under-par after a final-round 67 , sealing victory with a birdie on the 18th hole at the Legend Course, Constance Belle Mare Plage.
How did the Indian golfers perform in the final round?
All three Indian players faltered on Day 3. Diksha Dagar shot 74 to finish tied 21st; Tvesa Malik carded 73 to end tied 38th; Hitaashee Bakshi posted 76 to slip to tied 58th. Each recorded their worst round of the tournament on the final day.
Who finished second at the MCB Ladies Classic?
Kajsa Arwefjäll (Sweden) and Casandra Alexander (South Africa) shared second place at 13-under-par . Arwefjäll posted a bogey-free 66 , while Alexander finished with back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 18th.
What was the lowest round of the tournament?
Italy's Anna Zanusso fired a course-low 63 , the lowest round recorded at the Legend Course, to claim solo fourth place at 11-under-par .
When is the next Ladies European Tour event?
The Ladies European Tour resumes after a one-week break with the Amundi German Masters in Hamburg from 14–17 May 2026 .
