England’s Alice Hewson made four birdies in eight holes on the back nine of the MCB Ladies Classic’s final round but her late charge was in vain as Smilla Soenderby claimed the title at Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius.

The 28-year-old’s back nine of 32 gave her a closing 67 and got her to 10 under par for the Ladies European Tour (LET) event – but the two final groups held their nerve and it was Soenderby who claimed the title.

The Dane birdied the 18th to thrillingly claim the inaugural MCB Ladies Classic by one stroke from Kajsa Arwefjall and Casandra Alexander.

Soenderby, 25, began her final round poorly, dropping a shot at the par-five fourth – but bounced back with an eagle three at another par five two holes later and picked up a further stroke at the ninth.

She birdied 10, 13 and 15 but gave one back to the field at 14 before making the decisive birdie on the risk-reward par-five 18th to card a 67 that got her to 14 under and ended Arwefjall and Alexander’s hopes of a play-off.

“Thank you to my mum who has been with me as my caddie this week. It has been so special and we will remember it forever,” said Soenderby, whose previous win on the LET was the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open.

“It has been an amazing event and I hope we come back here. I really enjoyed the Legend course and I’m so happy with this win.”

Sweden’s Arwefjall made six birdies and avoided any dropped shots in her closing 66, which set a stiff clubhouse target of 13 under.

Alexander then eagled the last to match Arwefjall – an aptly thrilling end to a rollercoaster round of 67 by the South Africa that also included six birdies but also a double bogey and two bogeys.

Hewson, from Hertfordshire, dropped a shot at the fifth but also made two other birdies on the front nine as she finished in a five-way tie for fifth.

The two-time Curtis Cup player – who has three LET wins in her career, including two in Switzerland – was part of a strong English showing in Mauritius.