 |
Charley Hull will be back at the National in Belek, Antalya, next week, for the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, being played on May 9-12. After finishing fifth as an amateur at the venue last year, this time she will be making her third start as a Ladies European Tour professional.
The 17-year-old from Kettering in Northamptonshire will be hoping to make it third time lucky after recording two second place finishes in her first two professional events on the LET, in Morocco and South Africa.
Charley obtained a provisional ranking at the 2013 LET Lalla Aicha Tour School and made her debut on the professional circuit in March this year playing at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco where she made headlines finishing in joint second place with Beth Allen of the USA at 11 under par, with a record breaking 64 in the third round.
She grabbed her second joint runners’-up spot in as many starts in unusual circumstances two weeks ago at the South African Women’s Open. After recovering from food poisoning early in the week, she opened the 54-hole tournament with a first round of two-under par 70 before heavy rain and strong winds wiped out the second and third rounds, reducing the tournament to 18 holes. She is now ranked ninth on the LET’s ISPS Handa Order of Merit and 25th on the European Solheim Cup points’ standings.
Charley, who played magnificently at the National last year as a 16 year old amateur, finished at one under par after four rounds, of 73, 72, 73 and 73, ending six shots behind the winner, Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands and only one shot behind fourth placed Carlota Ciganda of Spain.
In her short career as an amateur Charley amassed many titles including the English Open Stroke Play, Welsh Open Stroke Play and Harder Hall Invitational in 2011. She also represented Great Britain and Ireland in the 2012 Curtis Cup team that defeated the United States of America.
After her great performances in Turkey last year and over the last two months, everyone will be following Charley’s game closely at the 2013 Turkish Airlines Ladies Open.
She will be joined by the two-time defending champion who won in 2011 and 2012, Christel Boeljon from Holland, as part of the 126 player field representing 30 different countries.
Others famous names who will participate include Sweden’s Carin Koch, who tied for third in last year’s tournament, British players Melissa Reid and Laura Davies, Lee-Anne Pace and Spain’s world no.28, Carlota Ciganda, the runner-up in Texas last week who is currently ranked second on the European Solheim Cup points’ standings for this year’s team heading to Colorado.
The Turkish Airlines Ladies Open is being held for the fifth time at the National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya, and is organised by Mineks International.
