The LET summer run continues with the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open this week, now in its fourth year at Royal Beroun Golf Club in Beroun, just 30 minutes from central Prague.
Last year’s tournament saw Jana Melichova make history as the first Czech amateur to win on the LET, after securing a one-shot victory over compatriot Klara Davidson Spilkova and Nicole Broch Estrup.
Here are some talking points ahead of the tournament:
Czech Talent Aplenty
No fewer than 15 Czech players will be competing on home soil as they try to win their home tournament – the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open.
There were two Czech players in the top three last year, when Jana Melichova secured a one-shot victory over Klara Davidson Spilkova and Nicole Broch Estrup.
They are both playing well, with two-time LET winner Davidson Spilkova in fourth place on the Race to Costa del Sol, after five individual top-10 finishes so far this season.
They are joined by Kristyna Napoleaova, who became a first-time winner on Sunday at the Amundi German Masters. She finished tied for 51st in the tournament in 2022 and equal 47th in 2021.
Don’t rule out Sara Kouskova, who won four titles on the LET Access Series last year, winning the Order of Merit, Rookie of the Year and Money List, securing her full LET card for 2023. She has already finished tied for 10th in the Aramco Team Series – Florida, which is surely a sign of great things to come.
Gainer Gaining Confidence
Third year LET member Cara Gainer earned her second runner-up spot in the Amundi German Masters last week, following on from a second place in the Mithra Belgian Ladies Open last year.
She carded four under-par rounds, shooting 68, 67, 18 and 71 to finish on 274, 14-under-par, tied with the eventual winner Krystina Napoleaova, who birdied the first play-off hole.
With her second-place finish, Gainer moved into the top 10 on the Race to Costa del Sol and she will be looking to carry that momentum into this week’s tournament.
Peláez Trivino Edges Closer to Number One Spot
The battle to finish at the top of the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol continues this week with six of the top 10 teeing it up in Czechia.
Ana Peláez Trivino sits only 3.47 points behind leader Aditi Ashok and will be able to overtake her and become the new number one if she finishes in 62nd or better this week.
She is not the only player vying for that top spot. With 500 points available for a win and 320 points for second position, Klara Davidson Spilkova would mathematically need another runner-up finish to leapfrog Ashok, depending on how Peláez Trivino finishes.
Two of the last three champions in Beroun went on to win the Race to Costa del Sol: Emily Kristine Pedersen, in 2020, and Atthaya Thitikul, in 2021. Could this be Peláez Trivino’s big week?
Schmidt Still Leads Rookie Race
The season-long LET Rookie of the Year competition is also heating up with Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt still out in front after her maiden victory at the Belgian Ladies Open.
The 27-year-old has 575.28 points with Thailand’s April Angurasaranee in second with 518.83 and Italy’s Alessandra Fanali in third place with 369.78 points.
With 27 rookies in the field, there is potential for someone to make a move in the standings by the end of this week.
Solheim Cup Team Europe Qualification Update
There are eight LET tournaments to be played before the European Solheim Cup team will be finalised following the ISPS Handa World Invitational in August.
Team Europe will comprise the top two players in the Europe Solheim Cup standings, the top six players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not already eligible, and four captain’s picks.
The current top two on the LET points list are Swedes Linn Grant and Maja Stark, with Spanish pair Carlota Ciganda and Ana Peláez Trivino just behind them.
Peláez Trivino is 64 points behind Stark, whom she needs to pass to move into second position and qualify to play in the Solheim Cup on home soil in Andalusia, Spain in September. However, she is only 5.83 points behind third ranked Ciganda, so a ninth-place finish or better this week would see her move into third position. This year, in LET events, points are awarded for top 10 finishes as follows: 1st place: 40 points, 2nd place: 24 points, 3rd place: 18 points, fourth place: 16 points, fifth place: 14 points, sixth place: 12 points, seventh place: 10 points, eighth place: eight points, ninth place: six points, 10th place: four points. Points are awarded for top 20 finishes in co-sanctioned events with the LPGA and in Majors. See full detail here.
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