Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen was awarded with an OMEGA Speedmaster Chronograph watch as the winner of the Ladies European Tour’s 2015 Rookie of the Year Award.
The 19-year-old from Smoerum capped an incredible first year on the Ladies European Tour with a tie for 17th place at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, which saw her end in sixth position on the LET Order of Merit, with season’s earnings of €171,688.41 from 14 tournaments.
She finished 36,919.12 euros ahead of her long-time rival and compatriot Nanna Koertz Madsen, who played in 16 tournaments in her first year on tour.
The highlight of Pedersen’s year was her maiden victory at the Hero Women’s Indian Open in October, where she led from start to finish to master the newly opened Gary Player Course at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon.
The win came shortly after she finished second at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Golf de Chantaco, where she was narrowly edged by Frenchwoman Celine Herbin in a play-off and she showed immense character to bounce back from the heart wrenching loss.
“The win in India came at a great time with only two tournaments left. It’s been an amazing year and I’m very happy,” said Pedersen.
She also tied for second at the Deloitte Ladies Open at The International in Amsterdam earlier in the year before completing her school studies, with further top 10 finishes at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, where she tied for seventh place, and the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, where she tied for eighth.
“I am very happy about my first year on the LET. I knew my first year would be quite tough as I had to finish high school in June.”
On her great Danish rivalry with Madsen, which has driven both players on to finish in the top 10 on the order of merit in their rookie season, she added: “I think it will always be there, because we are from the same club from the same place. I think it’s always going to be there. I just think I don’t think about it that much anymore. Like when we were kids, it was all about her and it’s not that now because there’s so many good players out here. It’s been a great year, and I’ve kind of shown that I can be here and I’m good enough to play out here, which is really nice.
“It would be great if I can do as Charley (Hull) did (and follow up by winning the order of merit) but it’s tough. There’s so many great players out here and I have to play really good again. Hopefully I do, but it’s hard to say that it’s a goal. Of course it’s a goal but it’s more like a dream goal.”
She will now take a break before heading to a training camp in Florida with the Danish National Team on December 26th.
