The Scandinavian Swing on the LET Access Series (LETAS) resumes this week as we return to Denmark for the hotly anticipated Smorum Ladies Open.
Starting on August 2, the tournament will see 132 players tee it up for 54 holes for the third largest prize fund, €60,000 at Smorum GolfKlub.
Back for its third edition, the Smorum Ladies Open 2024 promises to be a fantastic event, here are some of the storylines for this week…
GEMMA CLEWS BACK TO DEFEND HER TITLE
Manchester’s Gemma Clews clinched her first LETAS victory in dramatic style with a play-off victory last year at the Smorum Ladies Open.
Trailing by five shots prior to the final round at Smorum Golf Club in Copenhagen, the 29-year-old fired a closing four-under 68, which included three birdies on the back nine, to take Sweden’s Corrinne Viden and Nathalie Borg to sudden death.
The play-off was short-lived, however, as Borg found trouble in the trees off the tee and Viden could only manage a bogey, leaving Clews to calmly two-putt for victory from close range to win her second professional title and her first since winning on the Rose Ladies Series in 2021.
With no LET tournaments on the schedule this week, due to the Olympics we can’t wait to see Clews back in action on a course with sweet memories.
ANOTHER LETAS LEGEND IN TOWN
Also returning to play on LETAS this week is Denmark’s Sofie Kibsgaard who became the 2023 Order of Merit Winner and Rookie of the Year.
Having graduated to the LET, Kibsgaard has had a mixed season on the course.
The Dane had a fantastic start to her LET career with a top 10 in the first event, the Magical Kenya Ladies Open.
Yet some weeks, the 25-year-old has missed cuts but her game seems to be trending with a tied 21st at the Dutch Ladies Open.
Currently sitting 77th position on the LET Order of Merit, Kibsgaard will be looking to attack the second half of the season and a week at home on LETAS should rebuild her confidence.
NINE GOLFERS TEEING IT UP AT HOME
A whopping 26 Danish players are teeing it up this week including nine golfers who are very familiar to Smorum Golf Klub.
Nine players are attached to the golf course, including the Leth-Nissen sisters: Cecile, Amalie and younger sister Sofie.
In 2022, the Leth-Nissen’s had all the glory with Cecilie, an amateur, winning the tournament and younger sister Amalie, who turned professional, placing second.
The latest LETAS winner, Natacha Host Husted, who clinched victory at the PGA Championship Gothenburg in difficult conditions, is also local to Smorum and will be one to watch.
BLUM BACK IN ACTION IN SMORUM.
After making the tough decision to take a few months off tournament golf, Australia’s Kristalle Blum is ready to get back to work in Denmark.
Blum has unfinished business at the Smorum Ladies Open after a brilliant tournament last year, which saw her become the overnight leader going into the final round.
The 26-year-old couldn’t cross over the line last year and having not played most of the season, there will be no expectations this year, but we are excited to see Blum back in action again.
Follow all the action throughout the Smorum Ladies Open on the LETAS social media channels – @letaccess on Instagram, X, and Ladies European Tour Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #Access2Let #EnjoyTheGame.
