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Ladies European Tour rookie professional Pamela Pretswell of Scotland believes that playing on the LET Access Series last year was ideal preparation for the main Tour.
During an interview at the Open de España, the 24-year-old from Hamilton near Glasgow explained how it helped her to settle in: “Having played the Access Series last year, I think that prepared me really well. It’s been up and down. I’ve played quite a lot of good golf but have had a few mistakes that ruined potentially good scores. I’m trying to eliminate them.
“On the LETAS, all the travelling, new people, new places and managing your schedule better: it was all down to you and no-one telling you what to do. It was important to make sure that you played well each week because in the pro ranks you don’t get away with as much as in the amateur game.”
Pretswell said it allowed her to experience tour life before making the decision to turn professional.
“On the Access Series, I liked how you could start the season as an amateur and finish it off as a professional and keep your points. I think that’s a really good idea as a way to progress and its encouraging amateurs to do it,” she said.
Pretswell began playing on the Access Series last year. After winning the Ljungbyhed Park PGA Ladies Open in Sweden as an amateur, she played on the successful GB&I Curtis Cup team before turning professional and went on to win the LETAS Ranking, earning her full LET card for 2013.
After eight events played in her first year on the LET so far, she is ranked 53rd on the order of merit with a season-best tie for seventh at the Deloitte Ladies Open.
“Holland has been the highlight so far. That was probably the best golf I’ve played,” she said. “I’ll try to repeat that and finish off the season well. It was cold, wet and windy and a linksy style course so that suited my game and I had a good putting week.”
On her hopes for the 2013 season, she added: “I’d be happy if I finished the year in this position. It’s my first year and I don’t think I’ve played my best golf yet so if I’m lying there then I’ll be happy.
“It’s been quick, the last few months. I can’t believe we’re only half way through the season already. I think I’ve played eight tournaments and I’ve been all over the place, to different countries meeting different people. It’s been a good experience so far.”
Pamela is excited ahead of the main run of major events through the summer and added: “I’m through to final qualifying so I’ll go to Buckinghamshire Golf Club for the European Masters next week and then straight up to Kingsbarns. I’ve played it a couple of times and it’s a nice course so hopefully I’ll qualify for the Women’s British Open.
“I’m also looking forward to the Scottish Open at the end of August. I’ve not played Archerfield Links before but it will be nice to play at home and I’m sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management so I’ll look forward to playing in a pro event there.”
