The second tournament of the 2021 LET season is just days away and kicks off the European leg of the Tour. Golf Club Margara will play host to the Ladies Italian Open this week, here are three things to watch out for in Italy.
LET Returns to Italy After Seven Years
Seven years have passed since England’s Florentyna Parker was crowned champion at Perugia Club when she clinched a one-shot victory at the last Ladies Italian Open. In 2014, it was an albatross on the 14th hole in the final round which ensured Parker finished on seven-under-par for the tournament. It was her second victory on the LET and she edged out compatriot Holly Clyburn, while Italy’s Diana Luna was the best-placed Italian in fourth place.
This year’s tournament will be the 25th edition of the Ladies Italian Open, which first took place on the LET in 1987 when Laura Davies claimed victory and the English legend has claimed four victories in Italy throughout the years. It’s a welcome return for the Tour and 2021 marks the LET’s first trip to Piedmont with Golf Club Margara hosting the tournament.
Home Heroines Out in Full Force
There is plenty of Italian interest in the entry list for the Ladies Italian Open with the opportunity to play on home soil. One of the stars in the field is Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, who made her debut on the LET in 2017.
She achieved her best season on the LET in 2020 with a 24th place finish on the Race to Costa del Sol. The Italian’s highlights included two top-ten finishes – seventh at the Investec SA Women’s Open and fourth at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open – as well as 15th at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
Rio 2016 Olympians Giulia Molinaro and Giulia Sergas will both tee it up at Golf Club Margara alongside Virginia Elena Carta, who recently turned professional.
Kyriacou Starts Season in Italy
Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou, who clinched the LET’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ title in 2020, starts her season at the Ladies Italian Open. The 20-year-old burst onto the LET scene in February last year with a breakthrough victory at the Geoff King Motors Australian Ladies Classic, which she won by eight strokes.
After her maiden win, Kyriacou turned professional and went on to have a stellar first debut season the LET. The Australian star went on to record two runner-up finishes and a further three-top five results in 2021, as well as setting a new course record 63 (-9) at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. Kyriacou claimed the prestigious ‘Rookie of the Year’ and finished third in the Race to Costa del Sol to top off her 2020 season and she will be hoping to replicate that form this year.
