Big-hitting Pia Babnik continued her fine form on day at the Hulencourt Women’s Open as she opened with a round of 70 (-2) in testing, windy conditions to sit two adrift of the leaders.
A two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour (LET), Babnik’s scorecard with unique in that she achieved it without bringing a driver into play at all in Belgium, even going as far as to leave it out of the bag to avoid the dangers of the thick rough at Hulencourt Golf Club.
“I left my driver in the car today,” the Slovenian explained. “Even before the round, even before I knew it was going to be windy I decided to play without it. On this course, for now driver stays out the bag. It’s a lot better without because the rough is so thick. I hit it pretty long anyway. For as far as I hit it, the fairway gets smaller. So it’s easier with 3-wood and it brings me more confidence.
“The wind definitely made things a lot harder today. But I actually really enjoyed it once I figured out the wind. I had some struggles at the beginning but then had some good looks for birdie. Overall I’m very happy with my day.”
Babnik is enjoying a stellar 2026 season recording five top-six finishes from 13 starts across the LET’s global schedule. The Olympian currently sits sixth on the Order of Merit – a position boosted by a T6 finish at last week’s low scoring Tipsport Czech Ladies Open.
“Last week I played really well,” the 22-year-old said. “It helps a lot when the week before is really good. It gives me more confidence but it’s a completely course this week. Two completely different weeks.
“My mum is also caddying for me this week. It’s nice and she helps me sometimes with the wind because you really have to guess out there.”
It’s been a rollercoaster past few years for Babnik, a two-time winner on the LET, who missed 11 cuts in a row in 2023 following a back injury and swing complications before bouncing back resiliently to make the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
The Slovenian’s two victories on the circuit both came in 2021 with Babnik now back to her best and desperate to earn a third in 2026. Her best finish so far this season came at the Investec SA Women’s Open in Cape Town where she finished third as Esme Hamilton claimed the victory.
Babnik will keep the driver out of the bag once again on day two in Belgium as she looks to chase down the leaders. Watch the Hulencourt Women’s Open live and follow all the action throughout the tournament on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram, TikTok and X, and Ladies European Tour on YouTube and Facebook. #HulencourtWomensOpen
