With the rookie race heating up on the Ladies European Tour (LET) our first year graduates headed to Finland next for the fourteenth event of the season at the Ladies Open by Pickala Rock Resort.
A series of storm suspensions caused drama in Siuntio but despite the inclement weather we were treated to plenty of low scoring as Carmen Alonso claimed her maiden LET title on her 251st attempt.
With a host of rookies taking to the Finnish fairways at Pickala Rock Resort, New Zealand’s Wenyung Key started brightest when she cared a 69 (-3) to sit in T16.
On a much sunnier day two, Switzerland’s Vanessa Knecht and New Zealand’s Hanee Song matched their opening 70s (-2) to lead the rookie ranks while Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley soared up the leaderboard with a 68 (-4).
With the cut set at level-par, eight rookies made it to the final round in Finland. Joining the trio of Knecht, Song, and Rudgeley were Japan’s Yuri Onishi, Sweden’s Sara Kjellker, France’s Nastasia Naduad, and the Thai duo of Trichat Cheenglab and Dolnapa Zukphokinvanich.
As everyone was engrossed by a Saturday showdown between Alonso and Sweden’s Johanna Gustavsson, Naudad fired up the flatstick to card seven birdies and post a 67 (-5) – the round of the day catapulting her into T18.
One shot better and ending the tournament as rookie of the week was Song. The 27-year-old posted a third consecutive round of 70 (-2) and holed a monster eagle putt on the par-5 8th to eventually finish T13 – her best performance on the LET to date.
“I came into this week with a change of mindset,” Song said. “As a rookie on Tour, I found the first few weeks of travelling and new courses, just the different environment really difficult. So I was really getting down on myself. But I tried to stay positive this week which really helped.
“I drove the ball really well and took advantage of my birdies opportunities. This week has been huge. I’ve been getting quite down on my golf and feeling like I don’t belong here, so this week proves that I do belong here and that I am ready. It’s been a massive confidence boost.”
In the rookie of the year standings, Cheenglab still leads the way and moves to 602.30 points following another solid week. Nadaud jumps to to fifth thanks to her stellar finish on Saturday.
Next up for our first year graduates is a trip to London for the next Aramco Team Series event Presented by PIF. Follow all the action on @LETGolf on Instagram and Twitter and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube – #RaiseOurGame.
