Rachael Goodall
A strong field is assembled for the 17th event on the 2019 LETAS schedule. 119 players from twenty-two different countries will tee it up this week at the Scandic PGA Championship, played at Allerum Golf Club, 20 minutes from Helsingborg in Sweden.
The event forms part of the Swedish Golf Tour, and with just two events remaining on the national tour after this week, the players will be concentrating on finishing the season strongly. The top ranked player on the final Swedish Golf Tour ranking will earn a place into the final stage of the LET’s Tour School later this year, thereby missing the pre-qualifying stage.
The LETAS players also have a lot to play for over the final four events of the season. At the end of the year, the top 5 players on the LETAS order of merit, not otherwise exempt, will earn their cards for the Ladies European Tour in 2020. The next 15 players will also earn their place at the final stage of the LET Tour School.
Last year’s winner Rachel Goodall from England has had a strong 2019 season, lying in 12th spot on the LETAS order of merit and already has a victory under her belt this year at the Ribeira Sacra Patrimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open in July. The 28-year-old from Wallasey will need a solid final few events to work her way into the top 5.
The current order of merit leader, Hayley Davis, is taking a break this week. The English player currently leads the ranking by 2,486.50 points from Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen, who will be competing in the event. With 5,000 points at stake for the player lifting the trophy, Nuutinen will be hoping for a strong finish again this week. The Finn finished in a tie for 2nd at last week’s dual ranking Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, and also recorded her second win on the LET Access Series in the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge at the beginning of August.
Nineteen past LETAS tournament winners are in the field, which includes Spain’s Laura Gomez Ruiz who currently sits in 3rd place on the LETAS rankings and with a solid finish to the year, will be in a position to earn her playing rights on the Ladies European Tour next year.
Past LPGA and LET winner, Catrin Nilsmark makes her second appearance this year on the LET Access Series. The past Solheim Cup player and victorious captain returned to golf after a long break with the plan to play on the seniors tour in the United States. The Swede performed well at the Anna Nordqvist Vasteras Open, finishing in a tie for 32nd.
There is a total of 15 Swedish, Danish and Finnish elite amateurs in the field, with Sweden’s Maya Stark the highest ranked player on the WAGR rankings, currently lying in 51st.
Play will begin on Thursday at 8.00 from both the 1st and 10th tees.
