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Tomorrow, Christel Boeljon, 26, from the Netherlands, will be the main attraction when the Deloitte Ladies Open gets under way at The International near Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport.
The 2011 European Solheim Cup winner and tournament ambassador will start as one of the favourites and has high expectations.
This is the 20th anniversary of now tournament director Liz Weima’s home victory in the 1994 Dutch Open at Rijk van Nijmegen and Boeljon wants to write more history this weekend in the Dutch capital.
“I think it would be nice for the tournament if a Dutch player can win but I just go in and play shot by shot and see what happens,” she said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, which is hard to do, because I would like to win it, but I think the key is to stay patient and let it happen.”
A four-time winner on the LET, Boeljon has had mixed results on the LPGA in the United States this season. She has made five cuts from eight starts, with a best finish of tied 7th in the Bahamas in January, followed by a tie for 13th at the LPGA Lotte Championship presented by JGolf and sits at 50th on the money list.
She continued: “I feel good. Technically everything is fine and going well. I don’t get to go back home a lot anymore because my focus is America but every time I get to go home there is a smile on my face. It’s great to see family and friends and play in the Deloitte Ladies Open and the weather has been great so far.”
The Deloitte Ladies Open holds a special place in her heart as she has played since the age of 15 and added: “My first memory was as an amateur when I was 15 years old at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club. You got to play with the big players and it was spectacular. I was so quiet and overwhelmed really by how it all is. I had a couple of good finishes as an amateur and as a professional and I’ve been close but it would be nice if I could do it one year. I just have to wait and see.”
This could be the year when Boeljon follows compatriot Joost Luiten as a home winner, as last year the Dutchman triumphed in the male equivalent, the KLM Open at Kennemer.
“He won last year which was very special. It’s very hard to do, I think, so hats off to Joost who did an amazing job. It would be nice to follow up and win the ladies’.”
Boeljon will play the first two rounds in the three-day tournament with the defending champion Holly Clyburn who won at The International and Gwladys Nocera, who won the tournament at Eindhovensche Golf in 2007 and 2008. On Friday, the three-ball starts at 13:46 from hole 10 and then on Saturday at 9:06 from hole one. For the complete list of tee times, click here.
