Iceland’s Hulda Gestsdottir clinched her first professional win at the Raiffeisen Bank Czech Ladies Challenge on the LET Access Series (LETAS).
The LETAS rookie, playing her fourth event since turning pro in 2025, shot her third straight round of 72 to finish on even-par overall, pipping Switzerland’s Natalie Armbruester (74) by one stroke.
During a week where her competitors gave in to frustration on an undulating course at Panorama Golf Resort, with windy conditions and intermittent spells of rain, Gestsdottir, 24, showed maturity beyond her age to keep her emotions in check.
“These are pretty Icelandic conditions out here, weather wise,” she said. “I knew that if I could just stay patient and be committed to each shot, then I would have a good chance.
“It is my rookie season. I really like how I’m playing right now and I’m feeling amazing. I wasn’t really expecting it this soon, but I’m very happy about it. It just takes the pressure off for later events. So, just very happy to be here.”
Starting the day one shot back from overnight leader Armbruester, Gestsdottir got off to a hot start with birdies on the 2nd and 5th holes.
“It really did help me settle into the round,” she said. “My putting was very good today. I was rolling it quite nicely and reading it well, which just felt amazing. Having that confidence in the putter really helped just throughout the whole round.”
But bogeys on holes six and nine meant she made the turn tied up with Armbruester.
She said:“I was nervous, but more just nervous and excited, because I don’t usually look at the scores unless I’m behind and trying to catch up.
“It just felt very good to know that I could just play my game, and then hopefully that would be enough and it was today.”
Gestsdottir immediately bounced back with a birdie on the par-4 10th and by hole 15, she was three shots clear after Armbruester dropped shots on holes 13 and 15.
Despite missing the green on hole 16 and making bogey, Gestsdottir parred out to secure her maiden LETAS win. Armbruester’s birdie on the closing hole was only enough for second place.
“At first I thought that I was only leading by one, so I thought that we were going into a play-off,” Gestsdottir added. “But then I realised that I won, so it was very fun.
“I was very nervous in the approach shot (into hole 18). I decided to club down because I knew that the adrenaline would make me hit the ball a touch further, which it did.
“So then in the first putt, I was just very happy that I was able to put it close to the hole and then make that small putt (to win).
“My goal would be to win again. That would be amazing. The ultimate goal is to make it onto the LET tour from the LET access, so hopefully I’ll get there.
“I’m going to Prague with my dad this evening, our flight isn’t until tomorrow, so I’ll probably go eat some amazing food and ice cream to celebrate.”
For Armbruester, it is her second runner-up finish after ending up in the same position during the Morocco season-opener which was won by compatriot Caroline Sturdza.
Sweden’s Moa Svedenskiold finished in solo third place at two-over overall after closing with a final day 71, while Czechia’s Lucie Vachova was a further stroke behind in fourth to finish as the best local player among the 132-strong field.
In a tie for fifth, the duo of Sweden’s Lovisa Gunnar (70) and Czechia’s Kristyna Napoleaova (75) finished four-over for the tournament.
Switzerland’s Victoria Levy (81) clinched the best amateur award for coming in a tie for 45th at 18-over as one of only two amateurs to make the cut.
After four events, France’s Lauren Holmey leads the way in the LETAS Order of Merit on 819.00 points. Armbruester is in second place (729.50), while Gestsdottir has shot up to third position (612.00).
The top seven players at the end of the 19-event LETAS season will earn their LET cards for the 2027 season.
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