The 2024 LETAS season has created one of the strongest winner’s circles the tour has ever seen.
We’ve seen nail-biting finishes, wire-to-wire victories and many play-offs. (Billie-Jo Smith we are looking at you).
The year has produced 11 outstanding individual winners who are destined to make their mark on the big stage.
Here’s a wrap up of every win we’ve seen this season, starting in chronological order.
1. Terre Blanche Ladies Open- Anna Magnusson
Sweden’s Anna Magnusson clinching her first victory on European soil was an excellent way to start the season.
The 29-year-old produced a great final round of 68 (-4) to defeat home favourite and French amateur Sara Brentcheneff by one shot.
Magnusson graduated from LETAS in 2022 but never got her win so to see her immediately earn it when she returned for the 2024 season was truly special.
Becoming the first person to earn an LET card through LETAS twice, we can’t wait to see what the Swede does on the big tour this year! This time Magnusson is ready.
2. Montauban Ladies Open, Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge and Santander Golf Tour-Avila- Helen Briem
Arriving to the tour as an invite for the Montauban Ladies Open, a then 18-year-old Helen Briem immediately made an impact.
After Australia’s Kelsey Bennett shot a course record to shine on the first day, Briem was patiently waiting in the wings ready to make her move.
Going one shot lower than her first two rounds, Briem secured her first of three one-shot-victory, and the world was awoken to a new rising star.
Winning the event secured Briem her playing rights for the whole season.
In Czechia, Briem stole the show once again despite final day being a tougher day at the office.
Briem became the fourth player in LETAS history to secure back-to-back wins but was determined to break the record and that she did in Spain.
With pressure from press, players and the public Briem did the unthinkable, she secured a third consecutive victory.
Additionally, Briem carded an impressive 62 in the second round, tying the tour record for the lowest 18-hole score.
3. MoreGolf Mastercard Open- Kajsa Arwefjall
With Briem off competing in her final amateur events it was time for the spotlight to turn on another rising star.
Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall who already had a LETAS victory to her name as an amateur, delighted the home crowds in taking her first win of the season.
With pressure coming from close friend and colleague Andrea Lignell, Arwefjall remained calm to take a three-shot victory at Tranas Golfklubb.
The largest winning margin this season has seen.
4. PGA Championship Gothenburg- Natacha Host Husted
After a sunny first week in Sweden, the weather turned and in the toughest conditions of the season, Denmark’s Natacha Host Husted emerged triumphant.
Being the only player to shoot under par at Albatross GolfKlubb, Host Husted established herself as a player to watch.
The victory also helped the Dane and Ole Miss graduate to secure her 2025 LET card.
5. Smorum Ladies Open- Gemma Clews
Returning with the one intention; to defend her title, England’s Gemma Clews got the job done at Smorum Golf Club.
Producing the only wire-to-wire victory of the season, Clews delivered on final day to take a one-shot victory and keep ahead of Swedish duo Anna Magnusson and Andrea Lignell.
It was an emotional win for all of us including Clews, who graduated from LETAS in 2023 and this victory can be credited with the power of mental game.
6. Ahlsell Trophy– Patricia Isabel Schmidt
Following in Clews’ footsteps, Patricia Isabel Schmidt, a LETAS graduate in 2022 came back to play on the tour during the LET scheduled break.
The German, in a final round where we had to have a shotgun start, fought off the pressure from Italian (then) amateur Alessia Nobilio to take her second LETAS victory.
Seeing previous graduates want to return and play LETAS is amazing and displays the growing recognition and strength of the tour.
7. Destination Gotland Ladies Open– Kajsa Arwefjäll
For the first time LETAS visited the beautiful Swedish Island of Gotland and we were treated to another home win.
Once again, despite tough playing conditions in the wind, Arwefjall came through to secure her second victory of the season.
The win placed Arwefjall at the top of the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year rankings, where she remained for the rest of the season.
8. Ladies Slovak Golf Open- Tina Mazarino
With much excitement, LETAS ventured to Slovakia to the simply stunning TALE Ski Golf & Hotel Resort, the previous site of the LET’s Slovak event between 2010 and 2014.
It was there that this year’s queen of consistency, Norway’s Tina Mazarino, came through to finally clinch her debut professional win.
Fending off local talent Michaela Vavrova, we were delighted to see Mazarino and team finally have all their dreams come true.
9. Get Golfing Women’s Golf Championship- Megan Dennis
A new fixture on the schedule, the Get Golfing Women’s Golf Championship impressed us all.
It was a shaky start for Megan Dennis on the final day, who carded a bogey and a double bogey before any birdie dropped.
However, the 25-year-old fought her way back into the game and enjoyed the privilege of winning in front of a home crowd, in front of her grandparents, parents and extended family.
It was a full circle moment for Dennis, who played as a junior at the Club at Mill Green and the champagne celebrations were very emotional.
10. Rose Ladies Open- Helen Briem
Always a firm favourite with the players, this year the Rose Ladies Open came back bigger and better with a 15,000-pound increase to boast the biggest prize fund the tour has ever seen.
Briem, who was making her second professional start and LETAS 2023 graduate Hannah Screen both eagled the 18th hole in regulation play to find themselves in a play-off.
After three intense holes and with the light quickly fading, Briem pulled it off once again to make LETAS history by becoming the first player to win four times in one season.
This would become her final event of the LETAS season and what a way to earn herself in the tour’s hall of fame.
11. Hauts de France pas de Calais Golf Open- Kelsey Bennett
It was now time for LETAS to cross the channel to France for the annual co-sanctioned event with the Alps Tour in Saint-Omer.
After play was shortened to 36 holes, Australia’s Kelsey Bennett who got the tough side of the draw thought she was out of the running after a strong first round.
Yet she got her second chance when she entered a three-person play-off against England’s Billie-Jo Smith and Switzerland’s Anais Maggetti.
Bennett swiftly defeated her opponents by sinking a 35-foot birdie on the first hole.
Now spending the rest of the season playing on the LET, we wish Bennett the best of luck in her bid to secure full status next year.
12. Lavaux Ladies Open- Mimi Rhodes
Back after a one-year hiatus, the Lavaux Ladies Open was crunch time for our players to earn points.
After a low scoring final day, Billie-Jo Smith sunk an incredible birdie on the 18th to force a play-off against fellow compatriot Mimi Rhodes.
It was a tensely fought battle between the two Englishwomen, with Rhodes finally coming out on top to secure her first professional victory, a mere 16 days after leaving the amateur ranks.
Supported by her mum, Penny on the bag, Rhodes a 2024 Curtis Cup winner felt her triumph was a long time coming.
With the win, Rhodes earnt exemption into the final stage of LET Q School and is also prepared to try over in the US at the second stage of Q-Series. We wish her the best of luck.
13. Calatayud Ladies Open- Ellie Gower
Just like that, we only had one event left on the schedule. Our finale in Spain, the Calatayud Ladies Open.
Sticking to the tradition of this tournament we were treated to a play-off, with England’s Ellie Gower emerging victorious after one-hole once Billie-Jo Smith found trouble near the bunker.
We certainly saved the best till last, and it was an emotional first win for Gower who gets one step closer to her LET dream by earning exemption into the final stage of Q School.
Fun fact for you all, all the winners of the Calatayud Ladies Open have been blonde and English. A coincidence?
With that we wrap up all the wins of the 2024 season and what a delight they were to witness.
In the meantime keep in touch with what our players are up to on our socials on @letaccess on Instagram and Twitter and LET Access Series on Facebook #RaiseOurGame #Access2LET
