SIMMERMACHER SAVOURING FIRST TROPHY AS A PROFESSIONAL

Magdalena Simmermacher

Magdalena Simmermacher finally got her hands on a trophy for the first time since she turned professional in 2019.

The Argentinian player was part of the winning Team Napoleaova at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Hong Kong.

Over the two days at Hong Kong Golf Club, the quartet of Kristyna Napoleaova, Laura Fuenfstueck, Simmermacher and amateur John Hyun posted a total of 31-under-par to win by one stroke.

This was a highlight for the 27-year-old, who has been playing on both the LET and LPGA Tour in 2023.

“So I was playing on the LPGA, and this was a week that I would be in the field, and I just really wanted to come here,” she said.

“I wanted to play in the Aramco Team Series because I enjoy them very much, and I just had a good feeling I was losing my card over there, but I was just like, I want to come here.”

Simmermacher, who has recorded 15 top-10 finishes on the LET, has previously been a Team captain at these events but that wasn’t the case this time around.

And the Argentinian wasn’t even a captain’s pick, instead being randomly allocated to Team Napoleaova – despite her playing a practise round with the captain.

But having finished second in the Team event at the Aramco Team Series – Bangkok last year, Simmermacher was thrilled to be able to get the win in Hong Kong.

She explained: “I want to see how I can do there. I was just very excited to come here and to actually get the win. I’ve been dreaming of this a long time since we started three years ago.

“We’ve come close, and I came close as a team captain, and this time, I wasn’t a team captain, and I wasn’t even picked. I was like, wow, how low do I have to go for no one to even pick me?

“I thought I’m just going to go and go very low and try to win it as a team and I was just very lucky to have them. They were a great team. I’m very happy to win it. It’s a team, but it’s my first professional win.”

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