Patricie Mackova, who carded rounds of 74,71,72 at last year’s Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge to finish two places behind her idol, Sara Kousková will have all eyes on her this week.
The 21-year-old is looking forward to teeing it up in her homeland where she finished in a share of fourth place last year.
The stunning Panorama Golf Resort is a new venue this year and there will be 131 players vying for the title which was won by Chiara Noja in 2022.
25-year-old Mackova loves being able to play in front of a home crowd and has enjoyed it in the past when back from college in the US at the University of Maryland, where she majors in Biochemistry.
“It is my first tournament at home since I got back from college,” Mackova explained, “This season I have had ups and downs, but I have a good feeling about this week.
“Panorama is such a special golf course, anything can happen, but I feel good.
“I’ve done what I can, and I feel prepared. So hopefully, I can show it on the golf course.”
Panorama hosted the D+D Real Czech Challenge, a Challenge Tour event at the start of June so the tournament course, a combination of the Meadows and Forest course, is in great shape.
“The greens are amazing,” Macková explained, “I’m excited to play again on such good greens as I haven’t had a chance in a while. The course is in amazing shape so I’m excited to get on and play again.
“Last year was a different golf course, it was my home course [Prague City Golf] so that made a huge difference, and I won’t be as confident on this course and know where I can shoot low. However, it is still a good golf course for me, I feel confident hitting the tee shots and approach shots. This week, I just want to have fun and enjoy the experience at a professional tournament.”
Sara Kousková, the 2022 LETAS Order of Merit winner won the tournament in 2021 when she was still an amateur, the first Czech amateur to ever win a tournament on a professional tour.
To Macková, Sara is an inspiration, and she hopes to follow in her footsteps.
“The win happened to Sara three years ago. The feeling of winning must have been amazing and the support she received was.
“So, winning here is a goal but we will see. Sara is such an inspiration, she’s two years older and we went to the same high school and used to practise at the same golf course.
“She’s such a dedicated player so it’s amazing to see her succeed on the LET.
“I want to follow her footsteps, to play on the LET Access Series and then to play on the LET – that’s my main goal.”
Mackova is hoping to make an impression when she tees it up alongside last week’s winner Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen and Malaysia’s Ainil Bakar at 13:30pm local time tomorrow.
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