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Home hope Dewi-Claire Schreefel is ready to mount a strong challenge for her national title when the Deloitte Ladies Open gets under way at The International from Friday.
Along with Solheim Cup player Christel Boeljon, the 27-year-old Dutchwoman is one of Holland’s top chances of collecting the title, following Liz Weima, who won the event in 1994.
Schreefel was the first Dutch player to qualify for the LPGA Tour and is currently 100th on the Rolex Rankings. She demonstrated her talents when she finished second at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters behind Shanshan Feng in December, posting a course record 63 in the third round at Emirates Golf Club.
This year, from three starts on the Ladies European Tour, her best finish was seventh at the World Ladies Championship in China, but she has played seven additional events in America with a season-best tie for 11th in Texas.
“I’m playing decent. I’m looking to put three solid rounds together. I’m definitely putting up some low numbers so that’s encouraging. I’m just waiting for everything to fall together and eliminate some mistakes,” she said. “It would be great if it’s this tournament but you never know.”
Full of praise for the Ian Woosnam-designed International golf course, which opened in November, she said: “It’s a links-style type of course with big greens and slopes off the greens and bunkers. It’s not near the coast, so it’s different but it fits well.
“You need to be able to place your tee shots which makes it easier to attack the pins, which they can tuck on the greens very well. Every green has three or four different sections to it. You can be in a different section and you will have a very difficult two-putt. If you are able to position yourself correctly on the fairway and have an attacking position to the green, that’s what you want!”
The course’s greens are amongst the largest and most undulating on the Ladies European Tour and will prove a significant challenge along with strong winds, which could be a factor. However, Schreefel is prepared for everything the Dutch weather can throw at her and called on all golf fans to come out and experience the action.
“Just bring your mittens, your beanies, the hot chocolate and your umbrella, and come and watch! It’s going to be a great venue, the course is great and Ladies European golf is fun to watch,” Schreefel said. “It’s fun to watch golf and ladies’ golf in general, people can identify with it much more. Just come and see it for yourself.”
The Deloitte Ladies Open is taking place at The International, Amsterdam, on May 24-26. Tickets cost 10 euros and can be purchased through this link.
