The LET Access Series returns to the par-72 Golf de Montauban golf course for the first time since 2019 for the Montauban Ladies Open, from June 11-13.
Greeting the 99-player field in France this week is a total purse of €40,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke-play format with a cut to the low 45 players and ties after 36 holes.
The second stop on the LET Access Series calendar sees Nina Pegova, who was the runner-up but the highest placed professional at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge last week, head the field. The Russian number one leads the LETAS Order of Merit rankings and is targeting another win this week in Montauban.
She said: “I am feeling very inspired, the win gave me confidence after not playing for a long time due to travel restrictions. It is great that the event in Czech Republic helped me turn the page in my life and I am excited to play in Montauban this week.I will try to play the best I can, but everything depends on so many little things. I will hope for the best.”
Amateur Elena Colombo performed very well in her first LETAS event of the year as she finished T3 and leads the Rookie of the Year rankings early in the 2021 season. The young Swiss player is soaking up the experience as a new member of the Tour and is staying humble after her superb performance.
Colombo said: “I am so happy to play the Montauban Ladies Open, especially after the wonderful week in Czechia. My goals for this week are to have fun and enjoy every moment of the tournament.”
Germany’s Verena Gimmy, who also tied for third last week, also feels confident for the upcoming tournament. Gimmy is happy with the LETAS season finally starting and feels satisfied with her winter preparation.
Gimmy explained: “I cannot wait to get into the next tournament, I feel like my game is headed in the right direction. Although I know that I can play even better. The course in Czechia was not easy and I still played well, so that gave me a lot of confidence. But for now, I am just as happy to get going with the season.”
The 44 French players in the field will be on the radar of the local fans. Currently, the highest ranked player on the Order of Merit, Emilie Alonso, is ready to fight hard on the French soil.
“I played the event back in 2019 for the first edition,” Alonso said. “Bruno Rebeuh is the host of this tournament and is fighting for women’s golf while hosting the Montauban Ladies Open and helping to put together the Lacoste Ladies Open de France. I am very excited to compete at home.”
Out of 48 amateurs teeing it up in Montauban, 35 will represent the French flag with Chloe Salort leading the way as the country’s best amateur on the entry list. The recent Kent State University graduate is thrilled to compete in her second European event this season since returning from the US after playing the NCAA National Championship in Arizona.
“I played the Jabra Ladies Open so I am ready and super excited to play in my second professional tournament of the year,” said Salort. “I really want to see how I perform against other great players in this kind of field. I cannot wait to be on the course.”
