After months of patiently waiting, the LET Access Series (LETAS) returns this week as the official development circuit of the Ladies European tour (LET) takes a trip to the south of France for the Terre Blanche Ladies Open.
Launched in 2010, LETAS provides players an opportunity to compete and progress on to the LET, with notable alumni including German duo Chiara Noja and Olivia Cowan, Belgium’s Manon De Roey, English twosome Cara Gainer and Meghan MacLaren, and Czechia’s Sará Kousková.
In 2024, seven LET cards will be up for grabs based on the official Order of Merit standings – one more than in 2023.
Golf de Terre Blanche will host the opening event of the season this week for the 12th edition of the tournament. It is also a special year for the course as they celebrate their 20th anniversary.
Before the tournament gets underway on Friday in France, here are a few talking points to look out for…
15-YEAR-OLD LOUISE UMA LANDGRAF BACK TO DEFEND HER TITLE
In 2023 we witnessed history on LETAS as French amateur Louise Uma Landgraf became the youngest ever winner on a women’s professional tour at the age of 14 years old.
With rounds of 69 and 74 after high winds shortened the tournament to two rounds, the French amateur kept her cool to win the first hole of the play off to champion over the Netherlands Pasqualle Coffa and fellow French Professional Charlotte Liautier. Now Landgraf returns for the tough job of retaining her title.
FIVE FORMER RUNNER UPS IN THE FIELD
2024 sees five former runner-up players return to rectify past mistakes. Coffa, Liautier as well as France’s Lucie Andre, Denmarks’ Amalie Leth Nissen and Sweden’s Emma Nilsson are all in the field this year and will be looking to go that one step further and pick up the silverware.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Swedish sisters Emma and Sarah Nilsson will both be teeing it up at the Terre Blanche Ladies Open this week. Both Emma and Sarah are LET members so will be hoping for a good week.
Emma has history on the course having placed runner up in 2018. Sarah is also a four-time winner on LETAS and won the 2018 LET Access Series Order of Merit.
24 FRENCH PLAYERS IN THE FIELD
Almost a quarter of the field is French this week as 10 professionals and 14 amateurs get ready to tee it up at Terre Blanche.
Two amateurs, Vanessa Bouvet and Clara Willem also have the added pressure of playing at their home course.
Last year saw a French player lift the trophy and these players will be very keen to keep it a home win.
IT’S THE SEASON OPENER AND 15 YEARS OF LETAS
2024 is a new year and anything can happen.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, LETAS has firmly cemented itself as the place where all future European great golf stars start.
That’s what will make this event so exciting as we see many new and familiar faces fresh and hungry to carve out early success and get one step closer to earning LET playing rights for 2025.
Follow all on the LETAS action this season on their official website, as well as on socials – @LETAccess on X, Instagram and Facebook.
