Lea Zeitler with her mother, former professional tennis player Markéta Stuskova Credit: Borja Nieto
We met with Lea Zeitler, currently one of the best amateurs in Austria who is competing in the OCA Augas Santas International Ladies Open this week.
“Hello my name is Lea Zeitler and I am from Tyrol, Austria. I started playing golf at the age of seven in the Czech Republic, where my mother is from. It was my grandfather who took me to the golf course. My grandfather was the greenkeeper at the golf course and the first time I went to the course I became completely hooked so I played every day that summer holiday.
When I returned to Austria, I joined a golf course that is two minutes away from my home. My parents did not play golf, only my grandfather. My mother, Markéta Stuskova, was a professional tennis player so before I started playing golf, I played tennis for four years.
My mother stopped playing professional tennis when I was born and I have a younger sister, too. She started giving us tennis lessons. Since I started playing golf my mother has tried also and plays mainly in the summer. She finds it harder than learning tennis.
I joined the Austrian national golf team and my best finish as an amateur was third place in the Slovenian Open. I received an invitation to play in this week’s LETAS event and I was very excited.
I am still combining my golf with school and when I am home I have to attend every day, so it’s difficult to do both.
This is my first professional tournament and I didn’t know much about the LET Access Series but I have a friend that plays on the tour Christine Wolf and she told me a few things. I would like to turn professional in a few year’s time.
The strongest part of my game is the long game at the moment and my putting is also very good. My plans for the near future are to play amateur events and the big goal is to qualify for the Youth Olympics in China. The team decision will be made in early June. The team will qualify from the World Rankings and in my age group for qualifying, I am currently the highest ranked.”
We wish you the best of luck in your upcoming events and hope to see you playing in China!
