The players will be making a push for points in the order of merit race at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France at Golf du Médoc this week.
Last year’s winner, Georgia Hall, currently leads with 605.26 points, followed by Jenny Haglund, with 426.10.
However, it’s all to play for with 1,200 points mathematically available if a player wins the next five tournaments in 2018: the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, Evian Championship, Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open, Hero Women’s Indian Open and Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.
Third ranked Sarah Kemp, with 259.38 points, is looking for her first win in her 133rd LET tournament at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, following her second place finish in the Lalla Meryem Cup in April, where she lost in a play-off to Jenny Haglund.
The 32-year-old Australian, who topped the LET qualifying school in December 2005, could reel in Haglund with a win in France, worth 150 points.
Fourth placed Anne Van Dam, from the Netherlands, could also make a significant gain, as could fifth placed Klara Spilkova, from the Czech Republic. Both are looking for a second LET title in France this week.
The LET Board and Players’ Council implemented a points based system to determine the LET Order of Merit in 2018, with four tiers based on the tournament prize-fund as follows:
· Tournaments with less than 200,000 euros: 500 points
· Tournaments from 200,000 to 399,000 euros: 1000 points
· Tournaments from 400,000 to 999,000 euros: 2000 points
· Tournaments with 1,000,000 euros and more, including LET Majors: 3000 points
As in previous years, to be eligible to appear on the final 2018 LET Order of Merit and Rookie Ranking, a Member must have played in a minimum of six (6) LET Ranking Tournaments during the current season.
This week’s tournament carries 1000 points and the winner will earn 150 points, as well as a place in the Evian Championship next week, if they are not already exempt for the fifth Major.
Some of the top players in the field looking to qualify include former French Open champions Beth Allen from the USA (2016) and England’s Felicity Johnson (2011), as well as European Mixed Team Championships gold medallists Olafia Kristinsdottir and Valdis Thora Jonsdottir from Iceland and European Team Championships gold medallists Linda Wessberg and Cajsa Persson, from Sweden.
