Emma Nilsson
Defending champion Emma Nilsson will start as the event favourite leading into the Belfius Ladies Open, played at the stunning Cleydael Golf & Country Club, from the 27th to 29th June.
Nilsson claimed last year’s title by 3 shots from Frenchwomen Julie Aime and Manon Molle with a 5 under par total and will be hoping to show the same form which saw the Swede top the LETAS order of merit at the end of the 2018 season.
The 25-year-old is relishing the opportunity to defend her title and knows what will be required to perform well over the Cleydael course.
“It will be a really fun week to defend the title. It’s obviously a new course but I will do my best. I really like the course and I think the course is perfect. I played in the pro-am yesterday and yes, there are some tricky holes but it’s a great course. First you need to hit the fairway and then to putt well. It’s not so hilly on the greens so if you can just putt well then it will be a low score,” commented Nilsson.
There is a strong Belgian contingent, with Manon de Roey the top ranked player, currently lying in 19th place on the LETAS ranking and 49th on the LET order of merit. De Roey is also a past winner on LETAS, claiming the 2018 WPGA International Challenge at Stoke by Nayland Hotel Golf & Spa. Fanny Cnops will also be a player to watch having become a first time winner at the Lavaux Ladies Championship last year.
Clarisse Louis will lead the way as the top ranked amateur, currently 52nd on the amateur world rankings (WAGR). The Belgian finished 42nd in the 2018 edition of the Belfius Ladies Open and will be looking to improve this year.
Germany’s Greta Isabella Voelker is enjoying a strong rookie season as a professional and will be another player to watch, along with England’s Hayley Davis who will be bidding to become the ninth first time winner on tour this year, and maintain her position at the top of the LETAS rankings.
One hundred and nine players from 23 different countries will compete for the title and valuable ranking points for the season ending Road To La Largue Final in October. At the end of the year, the top 5 players on the LETAS ranking, not otherwise exempt, will earn a Ladies European Tour exemption, with the next 15 players qualifying directly to the final stage of the LET Tour School.
Play will commence on the first day at 8.00 from both the 1st and 10th tees.
