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Solheim Cup heroine Charley Hull is in China this week seeking her maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour.
The 17-year-old rookie will tee up in the three-round Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open starting on Friday at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club, in a field of 114 international competitors from the LET, China LPGA and Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
“Obviously I’d like to get a win under my belt, or just another good finish,” said the Woburn player, ranked ninth on the LET order of merit after 12 tournaments played so far this season.
She feels that she will have a better chance of success this week after recording a tie for 35th at the Sanya Ladies Open last week in tropical Hainan, on her first visit to China.
“I played quite well last week but the putts didn’t drop for me in the last couple of rounds. It was a bit frustrating because I started off quite well with a five-under, but it’s all a learning experience for next year.
“I think the greens are a lot better from last week because this week they are rolling nicely, with no grain and they are pretty pure. I think I’ve got as good a chance as any week if I just keep patient and as its getting towards the end of the season I’m starting to work on a lot of stuff for next year, because you don’t get to work on it so I’m using these last few tournaments to prepare myself for next year.”
Hull’s incredible first season as a professional started with five straight second place finishes in Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, Holland and Germany. She then became the youngest player to appear in The Solheim Cup, scoring two points out of three for Europe as the team beat the USA for the first time on their home soil.
Her highlights include defeating Paula Creamer by 5 and 4 in the Solheim Cup singles – before asking the US star to sign her golf ball – as well as finishing three strokes behind Holly Clyburn in the Deloitte Ladies Open, played in bitterly cold and windy conditions at The International, a new links-style course in Amsterdam.
Reflecting on her season, she said: “The Solheim Cup was great, when I beat Paula Creamer, but then probably Holland was a good event for me, in the final round. I was about seven behind and I caught the lead after 14 holes and made a couple of bogeys in. It was very windy on the last day and I played really well.”
Charley is now expected to be among the front runners for the 2013 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year after nominations opened just over a week ago. Previous winners include Tom Daley, Andy Murray, Wayne Rooney and Ellie Simmonds. To vote for Charley visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sports-personality/
Charley and the rest of the European Solheim Cup Team also have a great chance to win at the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards. To nominate Charley and the European Solheim Cup Team visit: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/Sport/article1319270.ece before the deadline of midnight on Monday, November 4.
