Another season is now upon us on the Ladies European Tour (LET) with the first event of 2024 teeing off this week in Africa at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
A whole host of faces from the 2023 LET Access Series (LETAS) season will be present at Vipino Ridge, some embarking on their LET debuts.
It will be a week of shaking off nerves for many and dusting down any off-season rust but any of our athletes have potential to feature high on the leaderboards.
From 2023 winners to college sensations right the way through to surprise Q School success stories, here are the LETAS grads of 2023 ready to roll in Kenya.
CATEGORY 11: LETAS TOP SIX
Only four of the six card winners are venturing out at Vipino Ridge but we can’t wait to see them repeat their successes on a larger stage.
Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen
Age: 24
Nationality: Denmark
The Dane dominated last season after securing three spectacular wins and topping the LETAS Order of Merit. Kibsgaard Nielsen has first-hand experience of playing on the LET after making the cut at the Lacoste Ladies Open as an invitee.
Elena Moosmann
Age: 21
Nationality: Switzerland
Moosmann has been a name to watch on the LET Access Series since 2019 when she won her home tournament, the VP Bank Ladies Open at just 17-years-old as an amateur.
2022 was Moosmann’s first full season on the tour where she finished 18th on the Order of Merit after nine events and three top-10 finishes.
Last season, the 21-year-old returned to the tour with a fire in her belly and finished the season in style with a win at the final event, Santander Golf Tour- Zaragoza and a runner up place on the LETAS Order of Merit.
Chiara Tamburlini
Age: 24
Nationality: Switzerland
The talented Swiss star hit the headlines when she won the PGA Championship Gothenburg in her professional debut. Less than a month later Tamburlini also won the Rose Ladies Open during her brilliant breakthrough year.
Hannah Screen
Age: 24
Nationality: England
It was a Cinderella story for Screen who went from limited LETAS status to full LET playing rights last season. Screen ended 2023 strongly winning the Calatayud Ladies Open and finishing runner-up in Zaragoza to secure her LET card.
Category 12: Q-School Top 20
Bel Wardle
Age: 24
Nationality: England
The winner of the 2021 English Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship and finished T10 at Final Stage Q-School in Marrakech, Wardle also made some brief appearances on LETAS over the last three years making the cut at both the Trust Golf Events back in July.
Dorthea Forbrigd
Age: 26
Nationality: Norway
Forbrigd is now fully focused on preparing for her first full season on the LET after spending last season playing between the LET and LET Access Series (LETAS), a notoriously difficult thing to do.
The Norwegian had some extremely promising results in 2023 including a seventh-place finish at the LET’s Big Green Egg Open.
Forbrigd also posted two consecutive top five finishes on LETAS, including a runner up position at the Lombardia Ladies Open losing out to LETAS Order of Merit winner, Sofie Kibsgaard Nielsen.
Theresa Diez Moliner
Age: 24
Nationality: Spain
Diez Moliner had a promising start to her 2023 LETAS season with a top 10 at the season opener in her home country, Santander Golf Tour- Girona.
Yet, the Spaniard couldn’t continue the momentum and finished 40th on the LETAS Order of Merit.
But the determined Spaniard didn’t let her previous season define her next as she put on a spectacular show at the LET Q School in Morocco.
Category 16: Q-School #21-50
Thalia Martin
Age: 27
Nationality: Spain
England’s Thalia Martin wore a big smile on the course throughout last year but behind the scenes 2023 has been an incredibly difficult year.
Nevertheless, the Englishwoman had two top 5s on LETAS and continued the momentum into Q School.
Whilst she finished one spot away from full playing rights at Q School, Martin is excited to have good status and more chances.
Lauren Walsh
Age: 23
Nationality: Ireland
Formerly of Wake Forest University, Walsh finished T13 in her LET debut back at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open in September.
Walsh made the cuts in all five LETAS events she played and finished top 10 in four.
Marta Martin
Age: 27
Nationality: Spain
Back playing on the LET again in Kenya, Martin had an incredibly strong year on LETAS. 2023 saw her have her first professional win at the AMUNDI Czech Ladies Challenge.
Corinne Viden
Age: 26
Nationality: Sweden
Close friends with Sara Kjellker, Viden makes the jump to the LET after playing on LETAS where she posted seven top-10 finishes.
Georgina Blackman
Age: 27
Nationality: England
Blackman finished 18th in the LETAS Order of Merit after two top 5s and a consistent season of making cuts. Now she’s ready to play on the LET again, starting in Kenya.
Katja Pogacar
Age: 29
Nationality: Slovenia
Having finished one spot outside earning her LET card through LETAS and narrowly missing out on a win in Calais at the Hauts de France, Pogacar arguably had the most heart-breaking season on tour.
Yet the experienced Slovenian dusted herself off and fought hard at Q School to win back better LET status.
Emily Pentilla
Age: 31
Nationality: Finland.
Pentilla previously played on the Epson tour for five seasons but in 2023, the Finnish player posted three top 10s on LETAS.
Cecilie Finne-Ipsen
Age: 25
Nationality: Denmark
A great ball striker, Finne-Ipsen had an impressive rookie season on LETAS with two top 5s. Originally on the reserve list, we are delighted to see her tee it up in Kenya.
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For more information on the LET Access Series, visit letaccess.com and follow @LETAccess on Instagram and Twitter – #RaiseOurGame.
