Last week England’s Alice Hewson retained her VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open title at Golfpark Holzhäusern.
One year on from defeating Tvesa Malik in a playoff, the English star cruised to victory in Switzerland winning by five strokes with a total of 13-under-par.
Having become the first player to defend her title in Switzerland, Hewson headed straight to Spain for this week’s La Sella Open.
Despite now having three Ladies European Tour (LET) titles to her name, the 28-year-old feels she hasn’t processed last week’s achievement.
“It feels really strange,” said Hewson. “I don’t know if it’s settled in yet. It almost feels tied up with last year’s win which is a really strange feeling.
“I’m trying to move on from it quickly, like last year I didn’t have much time to sit down and reflect on it. We’re at another tournament and I need to come here and do as well as I can at La Sella.
“It’s been a really strange year for me. I’ve had a lot going on off the golf course. I got married last Christmas and been having to deal with different visas and shipping containers, and I had a change in coach this year too, which was a little bit unexpected.
“Dealing with all of that earlier in the year and then those pieces slotting into place. I got a new coach, I went back to the guy who I was with a few years ago and visa sorted, shipping container sorted.
“It was almost like a big weight was lifted and I was able to focus back on the golf a little bit more, which has been nice. Golf is now no longer just a relief from all the other stuff going on in my life. It’s something I’m enjoying again on the golf course and having a good time.”
After last year’s La Sella Open, Hewson stayed in the Denia area to have her hen do which was organised by fellow LET player Marianne Skarpnord.
The three-time LET winner has good memories from off the golf course with the fun she had and is looking forward to being back in the area.
She continued: “Absolutely, we had some fantastic times last year. Skarpy put on a wonderful hen do, and we had so many great people that came and had fun with us and got to spend an extra few days around this area and down in Denia. Hopefully, a little less party this year and a little bit better golf, but definitely good memories here.
“It’s definitely an adjustment to last week. It’s soft, but in a different way. The greens are still very receptive, but it’s not because they’re wet, it’s just the type of grass that’s here. It definitely clings onto the club a lot more in the fairways.
“I think ball striking is going to be really important this week, in a different way from last week. It should be good; we’re checking it out. Rory has been out walking the course lot, as he always does.”
Off the back of her third LET title, Hewson now sits eighth in the LET Order of Merit as the Tour heads into the final stretch of the season.
But the victory hasn’t changed the English star’s goals for the season, as she’s just trying to do the best she can every week.
She added: “I don’t think my goals have really changed too much. I’m playing five of the final six events. It’s still a tough stretch still to come, tough physically and mentally. We’re all over the world still to finish this year, so the goals are always the same.
“We’re always trying to go out and do as well as we can and if we can come away with a win at one or more of those events, then so be it. We’re just going to take it day by day.”
Hewson is teeing it up in round one at La Sella Golf Resort at 8.20 am (local time) alongside Wales’ Darcey Harry and France’s Nastasia Nadaud.
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