Event four of the 2023 Ladies European Tour (LET) season saw the start of a two-week South African swing as we headed to Johnnesburg for the Joburg Ladies Open.
With a string of rookies in the field at Modderfontein Golf Club, Dutch golfer Lauren Holmey made a dream start when she opened with a 67 (-6) to hold the lead after day one.
After a sunny second day, 14 rookies made the cut which stood at +2. This included Trichat Cheenglab, Nastasia Nadaud, Emma Spitz, Alexandra Forsterling, Momoka Kobori, Amalie Leth-Nissen, Julie Boysen Hillestad, Sara Kouskova, Lea Anne Bramwell, Wenyung Key and Aline Krauter.
Italy’s Alessandra Fanali and Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley then led the way sitting in T6 on -4 – the latter shooting a 67 (-6) to soar up the leaderboard.
After a solid showing at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International, Germany’s Krauter posted the low rookie round on Friday as she carded a 70 (-3) to move into T29.
On to the final day, and it was Rudgeley who ended the tournament as rookie of the week. The 22-year-old closed with a 71 (-2) on Saturday to place 8th and produce her best finish to date on the LET.
“I’ve really enjoyed this week,” she said. “It’s been great fun. My wedge play was really good, especially when I was in danger. The rough was really thick but I seemed to make up-and-down quite a few times. I putted well, so all round it was pretty good and I’m happy with where my game is at.
“It’s been good to see where my game is against the other girls, and after just coming out of my amateur career, I think it holds up pretty well. I’ve adapted pretty quickly which is always a bonus.”
Elsewhere, Hillestad finished T20 on -2 as Lily May Humphreys picked up her maiden LET win. Cheenglab finished T22 on -1. Bramwell, Fanali, Krauter and Nadaud all ended the week T27 on level-par.
Next up for the rookies is the Investec SA Women’s Open at Steenberg Golf Club.
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