With the Ladies European Tour (LET) now back in the Europe for the summer swing, next up we’re in Sweden for an exciting double-header beginning with the Helsingborg Open.
Returning for the first time since 2015 and taking place at Allerum Golf Club, 126 players from 28 nations will be vying for the trophy in the tenth event of the 2023 LET season.
Before the tournament gets underway, here are a few talking points to look out for…
In-form trio chasing victory
Few players arrive in Sweden in greater form than the trio of Spain’s Ana Pelaez Trivino, Czechia’s Klara Davidson Spilkova, and Germany’s Chiara Noja.
Pelaez currently sits third in the Race to Costa del Sol and will be feeling refreshed after taking a week off at the Belgian Ladies Open.
The same can also be said for Davidson Spilkova, who sits fourth in the standings and will be teeing up at Allerum following a runner-up finish at the Aramco Team Series – Florida Individual event.
Then there’s 17-year-old Noja, who like Spilkova finished second in her most recent event in Belgium to jump to fifth in the Race to Costa del Sol. All three will be expecting to contend again this week as they chase down Aditi Ashok in the standings.
Rookie race heats up
From one hot race to another, the Rookie of the Year contest is also heating up and looks poised to be as competitive as it’s ever been on the LET in 2023.
Now leading the way is Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schdmit who arrives in Sweden full of confidence after landing her maiden LET win in Belgium last week.
Things are then incredibly bunched as we pan down the standings, with just over 300 points separating Thailand’s April Angurasaranne in second and Austria’s Emma Spitz in tenth.
But with six of the top ten not competing this week – including Spitz and Italy’s Alessandra Fanali – we could be set for more movement in the standings with a string of rookies eager to make their mark in Sweden.
Broch Estrup defending champion
After bursting onto the scene in 2015 to land her maiden LET title, Nicole Broch Estrup now finally has the chance to defend her Helsingborg Open title eight years later.
Estrup defeated Ashleigh Buhai by one shot at the last edition of the tournament, and without a victory since then the Dane will be hoping to replicate the performance which helped her win LET Player of the Year in 2015.
The 30-year-old has made a solid start to 2023 contending in Morocco, Joburg, and Singapore, and Helsingborg would be the perfect setting to go one better and return to the winners’ circle with a successful defence.
Super swedes
There will be no fewer than 24 Swedish players on display this week with Caroline Hedwall and Johanna Gustavsson leading the home charge.
Within this number is also nine of the 11 invitees, a group which includes several rising stars in the world of amateur golf like coveted collegiate players Andrea Grimberg Lignell and Louise Rydqvist, as well as PING Junior Solheim Cup winner Meja Ortengren.
Carin and friends
Last but not least, the Helsingborg Open will start with a special six hole exhibition matched staged on Wednesday at 18:00 local time to help raise money for The Cancer Society.
Former Solheim Cup captain Carin Hjalmarsson will be hosting the event with the likes of Hedwall, Gustavsson, Helen Alfredsson, Sophie Gustafson all taking part to raise funds for the tremendous cause.
The Helsingborg Open takes place over 54 holes between 2-4 June. Follow all the action on @LETGolf on Instagram and Twitter and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame #HelsingborgOpen.
