BYRNE TIED FOR SECOND IN FRANCE TO ENJOY BEST (LET) FINISH
Ireland’s Sara Byrne finished tied second at Jabra Ladies Open de France to record her best finish on the LET (Photo: Tristan Jones/LET)
Ireland’s Sara Byrne recorded her best-ever finish on the Ladies European Tour (LET), finishing tied second at the Jabra Ladies Open de France at Evian Resort Golf Club behind winner Helen Briem from Germany.
Byrne has returned to the tour after her recent injury (arm) setback and closed out a fine tied second finish at the Major Championship venue with rounds of 68, 69, 71 to be on five-under alongside Shannon Tan (Singapore) and Lydia Hall (Wales) and earned €29,250.
“I’m really happy with that week to be tied second, my best-ever LET finish and first time in the final group,” said Byrne. “Today was probably the best golf I played all week, unfortunately not one putt wanted to drop for me all day.
“I gave myself so many opportunities. I’m so proud of how I handled myself out there and this has been a fun week. It’s been really fun being back on Tour and putting myself in contention.”
Fellow Irish featuring at the Evian were Aine Donegan who finished tied 21sy on level par with rounds of 72, 72, 69. Anna Foster was tied 43rd on three-over with rounds of 73, 71, 72. Annabel Wilson retired after her opening round.
Briem was a runaway winner; some seven strokes clear of the chasing pack after her closing round of 67 for a winning 12-under total to earn the €67,000 winner’s cheque. It was her second LET title.
The 20-year-old led by three heading into the final round and started off steady rolling in pars on her first six holes before she made her first birdie on the seventh.
She then made three further birdies in four holes from the 11th to secure the largest margin of victory of the 2026 LET season.
“It’s been a long time. I came close a couple of times and I didn’t make it, but it’s a great venue to get my second win. It’s great over here, and it was a great weekend,” said Briem.
“I actually did not really know the standings, so I was always trying to push and make birdies and giving myself opportunities. Then I birdied 11, 12 and 14 and it was easy from there on. I had a couple opportunities in the last four holes, but I’m really happy.
Briem’s first LET win was at La Sella Open in September 2024 with her father Jochen by her side. The pair now have another trophy for their collection, and the 20-year-old has also booked her spot at the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship.
“It’s great,” she continued. “Playing Majors is always a special experience, and obviously, it was on my mind that this is at stake over here, but I also knew that there are other possibilities or opportunities to qualify for Evian. It was on my mind, but I knew it wasn’t mandatory, so that helped a lot.
“[On her dad] We’re having a good time. We’re learning, we’re growing together, and it’s such a privilege to play with him on the bag, and to travel the world with them, and I’m really glad that he’s always on the side.
“I have a week off now, and then I play Dow with Nastasia [Nadaud]. I’m looking forward to that and then we’ll see what else this season brings.”
In the LET Order of Merit, Briem jumps from 75th to 12th in the rankings and now has 600.25 points to her name. Leona Maguire is a leading Irish player (21st) in the standings with Byrne 38th after her tied second finish. Anna Foster is 55th and Aine Donegan 69th and Lauren Walsh 117th, who is currently competing on the LPGA Tour.
The LET now takes a two-week break before continuing its European swing at the Dutch Ladies Open from June 19-21 at Goyer Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands.