L.E.T. Ladies German Open. Carlota beats Charley in Play-Off

Carlota Giganda beat Charley Hull in a play-off at the L.E.T. Ladies German Open at Golfpark Gut Häusern, Munich, Germany.

Carlota Ciganda / Getty

Carlota won with a birdie on the first play-off hole, after both players had finished the tournament level on -6 under par. Strangely the first play-off was the par three 15th, it is very unusual to have a par three as a first deciding hole. Playing in a torrential down-pour Carlota hit a sweet seven iron to about six feet from the cup. Charley hit a three-quarter six, which left her about 20 feet, the putt coming up just short.

The terrible weather conditions were the catalyst for the curtailment of the UniCredit Ladies German Open. The result of copious amounts of precipitation throughout the tournament dates, the decision of the organizers was made to abandon the remaining rounds of play and to declare the winner of the Tournament on the basis of the results of the first two rounds of play completed on Thursday, 30 May and Saturday, 1 June.

Carlota won herself a nice 23rd birthday present, an Audi Q5 to go along with the prize money. The title sponsor UniCredit generously agreed to pay the full prize fund rather than the contracted 50 per cent, meaning that Carlota earned the full first prize cheque of 52,500 euro and an Audi Q5 car.

Carlota insisted her caddie check the distance to the flag on the par three play-off hole;

” I told my caddie to go and check the distance because we had where the pin was. He told me it was 149 and I knew that was my 7-iron. I was just on the range hitting 7-irons all the time. I hit a great shot, but I’m very lucky to make that putt because the greens, you never know, they were slow and I hit a good putt and won so I’m very happy.”

Carlota and her birthday present an Audi Q5 / Getty

For 17 year-old Charley,  this was her fifth second place finish in as many starts on the Ladies European Tour this year. After her defeat she asked;

” When am I going to win? I just hope that it counts for Solheim, because I really want to get into the Solheim! It’s a shame but I’ll have another chance in Slovakia soon.”

Charley and her unsuccessful putt on the play-off / Getty

Rebecca Hudson from England finished the tournament in third place, based on the result which was decided on the two rounds already played.

L.E.T. Ladies German Open. Two Tied at the Top

There are two Ladies tied at the top of the board at the L.E.T. Ladies German Open, with scores of -6 under par for the tournament. Charley Hull from England and Carlota Ciganda from Spain have a one shot lead over the field.

Charley Hull and Carlota Ciganda / Getty

After the very heavy rain led to the abandonment of second-round play on Friday, the Stipulated Round was reduced to nine holes due to the condition of the course. A torrential downpour in the afternoon followed by steady rainfall interrupted play and organisers were praised in getting any play on at all. The majority of the days play was completed before a suspension of two hours and 25 minutes. The two leaders returned to the course at 7.15 pm to complete their nine holes.

Charley was two shots clear of Carlota at the suspension of play but could not maintain that position;

” I started off really well. I started with a birdie and plodded my way around after that. I birdied the par-3, which is the 12^th hole, then parred and bogeyed 14.”

Carlota was celebrating her 23rd birthday, and had lots of rain-coated friends in her gallery;

” It has been a strange week. The last two days have been crazy and the weather wasn’t helping at all so you can’t really do anything. It was such a shame and unlucky because it’s a great event and great organisation, but when the weather is that bad and the course is almost unplayable, it’s hard. At least we managed to play nine holes today and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I did three birdies and one bogey. I was just trying to hit one shot at a time and just playing my best golf, but it wasn’t easy because it was raining and very wet.”

Rebecca Hudson is in third place at -5 under par, and there are then four players tied at -4 under par. In these conditions anything could, and probably will happen.

 

 

L.E.T. Ladies German Open. Swans Enjoy the Wash-out

Only the Swans enjoyed the second day at  the Ladies German Open, they were able to splash around the course as the golf had been washed-out due to heavy rain.

The Swans on the eighteenth fairway at Golfpark Gut Hausern / Getty

Fraser Munro, the tournament director announced;

” Adding to already wet conditions an additional 25 mm of rain fell overnight, resulting in the golf course becoming completely unplayable. After further heavy rainfall, the decision was taken at 1 pm that there will be no play today. The plan is to start tomorrow with the same tee times that we had for today.”

One of the first round leaders,  Charley Hull, said it was a shame;

” The weather has been so bad today and they have had to abandon play because the course is under water. It’s a shame because it’s set up as a great event.”

Fellow co-leader Celine Herbin said:

” Obviously it’s a little bit of bad news not being able to play as we always prefer to play rather than staying in the clubhouse and I wish I could have could have gone out. I hope that we can practice a bit, but if not I will relax in the hotel or go shopping and get ready for the players’ night tonight.”

A good-will gesture from the organisers, there will now be free entry to the tournament for spectators on Saturday and Sunday.

L.E.T. Ladies German Open. It’s Tight at The Top

It is a tight leaderboard at the Ladies German Open, with five Ladies all tied with first round scores of -5 under par , 67. Charley Hull, Stefanie Michl, Diana Luna, Line Vedel and Celine Herbin are all very cosy at the top.

 

Laura Davies and Cheyenne Woods watch as Charley Hull tee’s off / Getty Images

Charley the 17 year-old Englishwoman has claimed four runner-up spots in as many starts on the Ladies European Tour. Her mentor, Tony Jacklin, thinks she is a phenomenal player. Charley said the only thing on her mind is Victory;

” I just went out and played. Hit it, find it and hit it again,  that’s all I do.Victory is the only thing on my mind when I go to any tournament because you want to win, but I just take one shot at a time.”

She would also like to be on the European Solheim Cup Team, and watching her performance today was the Euro Team Captain Liselotte Neumann. Of her chances on making the team,Charley remarked:

 ’ I’ll just keep on playing my golf and hopefully get in.”

Diana Luna, the 2011 winner, was happy the weather forecasters got their reports wrong:

” I was very calm on the course and enjoying the fact that it didn’t rain today. I think we got very lucky with the weather. I’m very pleased because I played great and it was a good start. I do like the course very much, even though it’s playing very differently this year. You play some longer shots but you always know what you’ll get because there are no funny kicks and the balls stops where it goes.”

Diana Luna / Getty Images

Line Vedel, coming back from injury, was just happy to be out on the course;

” I haven’t practiced so I’m just happy that I could play and I enjoyed it out there.”

Stefanie Michl was pleased with her steady first round:

” I was just hitting it nicely and hit it close a few times and holed some putts. I missed some here and there but it was a nice steady round.”

 

L.E.T. Deloitte Ladies Open. It’s Holly in Holland

In Holland, rookie Holly Clyburn won the Deloitte Ladies Open, at The International Course in Amsterdam.

 

Holly’s Hurrah at her win./ LET

Holly, a 22-year-old rookie professional from Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire, England, was playing in only her fourth L.E.T, event. She finished with a tournament score of -8 under par, three shots clear of the field, and said she was flabbergasted;

” I’m flabbergasted, I played great golf all week pretty much. I just relaxed, didn’t get nervous all day and kept in my own little bubble. I didn’t watch what the other girls were doing. I looked at the scoreboard when I could but there was only one way I was going and that was to get this.  It proves that I can win, makes me believe in myself and makes me think that I can go on to win bigger things.”

You will notice that Holly changed hats for this presentation picture./ LET

In second place at -5 under par, was Charley Hull, this result lifted the 17-year-old from Northamptonshire, England, into first position on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit. Charley is enjoying the extra distance from her TaylorMade R1 driver;

” I was playing really well today and was seven under through eleven holes. I played really well in that wind and I’m hitting my new driver miles, an extra 30 yards with my new TaylorMade R1 driver , so I’m absolutely loving it.”

17 year-old Charley Hull / LET

 

 Camilla Lennarth of Sweden, the overnight leader, crumbled in the final round and finished in a tie for fourth place.

This win shows how strong  Ladies golf is in England, with these two rookies coming through and proving themselves on the Ladies European Tour.

L.E.T. Turkish Airlines Ladies Open. Two Tied At The Top

There are two players tied at the top of the L.E.T. Turkish Airlines Ladies Open at the conclusion of the third round at the National Golf Club in Antalya, Turkey. Carlota Ciganda from Spain and England’s Charley Hull sit atop the leaderboard at -4 under par.

Charley Hull / L.E.T.

English rookie Charley Hull is attempting to win her first L.E.T. event and her third round score of -4 under par 69 has catapulted her to the top of the leaderboard for the start of play in the final round tomorrow. She has had two second place finishes already this year, at the  Lalla Meryem Cup and also the South African Women’s Open.

Charley was happy with her third round apart from the three putt on the last hole today;

” It was a really good round but I’m very disappointed because I three-putted the last hole. I haven’t parred that hole yet, It was a really good day but I’m a bit annoyed. You want to be as good as you can. I didn’t expect anything but I played in quite a few events last year and did well and I felt like I was playing well so I kind of did expect. I wanted to come out with a bang, and I have.”

Carlota Ciganda / L.E.T.

Carlota had a third round of -1 under par 72, but thought she had played better than that score;

” I did one-under today, so I think it’s good to make under par on this course, I think I played better than the result. I missed a few putts out there and I’m happy because I’m at the top and there is one more day so I’m going to try my best. I hit good shots, very solid off the tee, so I’m going to try to keep it up.”

Alone in third place is defending champion  Christel Boeljon, her fabulous third round of -6 under par, 67, has put her right back into the mix.

Christel was pleased with today’s effort but rued yesterdays 78;

” A good round, I’m really happy with it and no bogeys, so my game felt really good and the stats are very good, so I’m really pleased. Yesterday, I felt like I didn’t get my rhythm. I didn’t get my tempo and I was fighting to find it all round long. Today, the swing felt really solid; I had a good rhythm and therefore I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and made some good putts.  I know you can make bogeys here and I know you can make a lot of birdies. Its not easy, so if you have a good round, it’s a really good round, but if you have a bad round, it can go fast. I’m happy to be back near the leaders. I don’t know how they are going to finish but it’s nice to be close and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. Tomorrow I’m just going to try to do the same, play one shot at a time.”

The more experienced players made a move in the wrong direction on moving day, the younger ladies showed them the way. Trish Johnson, now in a share of fourth at  -2 under and Laura Davies sharing tenth at +1 over par lost out. Carmen Alonso  ended the day back in a share of 15^th on two over par after a six-over 79.

Ricoh British Womens Open at Royal Liverpool, Round 1

Haeji Kang and So Yeon Ryu of  South Korea sit at the top of the Ricoh British Womens Open at Royal Liverpool, with opening rounds of -2 under par 70.

In a packed leaderboard there are nine players at -1 under par, among those are  Jiyai Shin, last weeks winner of the LPGA Kingsmill Championship, Karrie Webb, Stacy Keating and Vicky Hurst.

The Worlds number one Amateur 15 year-old Lydia Ko finished with a round of even par, and is very handily placed, there are 17 players on even par at the conclusion of play on day one. Another teenager up with the leaders is sixteen year-old Charley Hull, of England, with a  1-under 71 in the opening round of the $2.5 million Ricoh Women’s Open. Charley has Ian Poulter as one of her mentors, they are members of the Woburn Golf Club. Charley has never met Lydia but has certainly heard of her. She is impressed by what the Kiwi has done, but she reminded everyone not to focus solely on her younger peer.

” There’s a lot more to come from me.”

Charley Hull/getty images

Lydia will fave a big test in the second round, She tees off at 11.40am, and with winds expected to approach 50 miles per hour, the young Kiwi could well face the toughest of the conditions. Her daunting task will be to limit the damage tomorrow and give herself a chance to make the cut and contest the trophy at the weekend.