Ferndown’s Hayley Davis can’t wait to get started playing again – the 2019 LET Access winner will tee it up in the Rose Ladies Series at Brokenhurst Manor GC, on Thursday.
Picture by TRISTAN JONES

DORSET’S Hayley Davis could not wait for the Rose Ladies Series to get under way today at Brokenhurst Manor.

Davis described the one-day tournaments for women professionals in the UK as “everything” as she prepared to make her return to competitive golf at the New Forest club.

Hayley is poised to tee it up in the first of seven rounds over the next month – plus the recently announced Tour Championship final at Wentworth.

Also in the field are Solheim Cup stars Charley Hull, from Woburn, and recent rookie winner Alice Hewson, from Hertfordshire, who won her first start on the LET in South Africa, in March.

The series has been sponsored by Hampshire’s US Open winner and Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose and his wife Kate.

Ferndown’s Davis earned her place on the Ladies European Tour for 2020, after winning the LET Access Series Order of Merit crown last year.

But with the LET schedule wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic, the 27-year-old is champing at the bit for a chance to compete in the newly-formed UK series.

Asked what Rose’s sponsorship meant for the women’s game, Davis said: “It’s everything. Just that the men understand how it is for the women – and the fact he wanted to do it – means a lot.

“For us, we do just want the chance to go out there and compete again.

“So, the fact we have been given the opportunity, it’s just exciting and amazing that he wanted to do it. It was really good.

“At the end of the day, we are all sports people. We all just want the opportunity to compete.

“There’s a lot of people behind it that want women to have the recognition, because it’s quite big that we are starting to compete before a lot of other sports have been able to.

“It’s just really nice that he wants to do it and understands that we need the opportunity.”

Justin Rose after winning the Gold Medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Picture by CHRIS CONDON / International Golf Federation

Rose: I had to help women’s game

FORMER World No. 1 Rose, who grew up playing junior golf for Hampshire, was determined to give the women’s game a lift.

Just days after missing out on a play-off at Colonial by a ball’s width with his final putt of the tournament in Texas, the new series bearing his name tees off in Hampshire.

Justin, who watched Florida’s Daniel Berger beat Colin Morikawa in a play–off in the first PGA Tour event in three months on Sunday, said: “I am keenly aware that I now have the opportunity to go back to work and compete on the PGA Tour.

“But this is not the same for the ladies and some junior tours as well.

“To me this seems somewhat unfair. My wife Kate and I felt there was an opportunity to step up and help.

“We wanted to give them the opportunity to play and to be ready for when the opportunities arise later in the summer.”

Last year’s LET Access Series winner Hayley Davis had to wait patiently for starts on the tour in 2020 – only for the COVID-19 crisis to interrupt her season. Picture by MANON GUENOT

Davis and Young to tee off in first group

HAYLEY Davis is set to tee off in the opening group at 10.30am alongside Brokenhurst professional Liz Young.

The LET ace came up with the idea of the Brokenhurst Manor Women’s Open earlier this month – before Rose offered to back a whole series of events as the idea snowballed.

“I am just really excited to be able to go and do it again because it’s been a long break,” Davis said.

“I know it’s been the same for everyone but just to have the chance to play again, when we didn’t really know when we would get the chance to play next, it’s really good.

“Nobody really knew how long it was going to go on for,” added Davis, referring to COVID-19 lockdown.

“That was probably the hardest thing – just to keep yourself motivated, keep going practice-wise and stuff.

“You had to get the net in the garden and try to keep in the swing of it as much as you could – and just wait to find out when we could get back to it.

“It will be really good to have a chance to compete once a week. It will make us more ready to go, hopefully when we do finally get started,” talking about the LET’s return.

The visit to Brokenhurst will also mark a trip down memory lane for the former Dorset Ladies Champion, who turned pro in 2015.

The Baylor University graduate said: “I went to college there for two years a while ago now. So I got to play there a lot. It’s really nice that the first one is close to home.

“I haven’t played there for about nine years I think, so it will be good to go back there.”

Davis and Young share amateur glories

Liz Young who has organised the Brokenhurst Manor Women’s Open.
Picture by TRISTAN JONES

HAYLEY Davis shares something in common with Liz Young – they have both won the English Ladies Amateur Strokeplay title.

Davis picked up the trophy at Tandridge in Surrey, in 2014 – eight years after Young – as Liz Bennett – claimed victory at Birmingham’s Little Aston.

Charley Hull is another former English Strokeplay winner in the field, having won at Alwoodley, in Leeds, in 2011.

Davis also won the English Girls title in 2011 at Ellesborough, before becoming just the sixth player ever to also win the English Women’s Amateur title, following the likes of Claire Waite, Diane Oxley adn Rebecca Hudson.

Rose is another with links to the classic Harry Colt course in the New Forest.

A then teenage member at North Hants GC won the Mike Smith Memorial Trophy in 1996.

In the process, he set the course record at Brokenhurst Manor – the year he helped Hampshire win the English County Championship for the first time.

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Alice Hewson, who won on her first professional start in the Investec South African Open in March, spoke about her golf life to England’s current national squad plaeyrs. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

THE next adventure for Hertfordshire’s Alice Hewson in her blossoming professional career will come – appropriately enough – via the newly-announced Rose Series.

However, Hewson will always make time to talk about her amateur golfing roots at Berkhamsted Golf Club and as a member of various England squads.

The 22-year-old is one of England Golf’s most recent success stories.

Last week Alice gladly accepted England Golf performance director Nigel Edwards’ invitation to host an interactive Q&A session with members of the national teams and their coaches.

Alice said: “England Golf gave me so many opportunities to travel the world and develop my game that I’m happy to pass on my experiences to the next group of players coming through.

Her story was one which held the attention of her appreciative online audience.

Having bid farewell to the amateur ranks by winning the European Ladies at Parkstone Golf Club last August, Hewson made an incredible start to life on the Ladies’ European Tour in March.

She won the South African Open in her first event as a pro on the Ladies European Tour.

On the back of a stellar amateur career which also saw her play in a winning Curtis Cup team and helping England to back-to-back European team titles – it was further confirmation that Hewson is one of world golf’s rising stars.

Alice bowed out of amateur golf by winning the Ladies European Amateur Championship last summer. Picture by LEADDERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Hewson set for Brokenhurst Manor

HEWSON’S competitive season tees off again on June 18 with the first of the seven tournaments that have been sponsored by England Golf ambassador Justin Rose and his wife Kate.

The Rose Series is a huge boost to the women’s game hit hard by the interruption to the season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – just days after Hewson’s win in Cape Town.

And for Hewson it’s a chance to write more chapters in her story which she was only too happy to recount for England’s current crop of leading amateurs.

Alice admitted: “I signed off my amateur career by winning the European Ladies and then to start my time as a pro by winning as a rookie was amazing.

“It actually didn’t feel too bad in South Africa coming down the stretch as I had no pressure on me to win.

“I had been in Abu Dhabi the week before for an event that was eventually cancelled.

“But I was in and around many of the tour players and got to know them so I was comfortable in my surroundings.

“I think the experiences I enjoyed with England in team events and winning individual events also helped me cope – and made sure I had no negative thoughts.”

Hewson also recounted her experiences at Clemson University in South Carolina.

She reinforced her view that an amateur golf career running parallel to a sound education was a smart move.

LET winner Alice Hewson is also a member of the Symetra Tour in the USA. Picture by ADRIAN MILLEDGE

After lockdown, Symetra Tour win is the aim

LOCKDOWN has allowed Hewson to take a breath and continue to work on her game – and target success in the US.

There have been coaching classes via Facetime, yoga sessions and a chance to work on some minor improvements to her game – and nip any bad habits in the bud.

“I’ve enjoyed the time at home as I decided to turn a negative into a positive by working on different aspects of my game,” Alice revealed.

“Now I can’t wait to get started again in the Rose Series at Brokenhurst Manor. It was brilliant of Justin and his wife to invest in and support the women’s game.

“I’ll now look to balance my schedule for the year, as I also have rights on the Symetra Tour in the US.

“I’d like to try and win in the US and build towards a full year in 2021.”

From Wee Wonder to world star in the making…

Alice Hewson as a finalist in the HSBC Wee Wonders with Nick Dougherty, at St Andrews, in 2009

ALICE – who tasted success early in the HSBC Wee Wonders series – also reflected on her years as an England player.

They helped her develop life skills and ease the transition from amateur to pro circuit, as well as the obvious technical benefits of working with renowned coaches such as Steve Robinson and Rob Watts.

Hewson said: “I’m passionate about education and was happy to give my thoughts on the college scene in America, and how balancing this with an amateur career can be beneficial.

“You never know what lies ahead – a player may get injured, you may fall out of love with the game. You need that back-up.

“As well as the educational side, the golfing opportunities are also incredible and it’s the best of both worlds.”

Alice was an all-round athlete before she even became a teenager, playing golf from the age of seven, when she had a very respectable handicap of eight.

As a 12-year old the Berkshamsted School pupil swam in the 2009 British National Championships in Sheffield, competed in the Wee Wonders finals at St Andrews after winning her regional qualifiers.

And to top it off, she put on her spikes to compete in the English Girls U13 Championships and played in the US Kids Championship, at Pinehurst, in America.

That winter she was part of the England Super Birdies Development Squad based at Brocket Hall, and made her Curtis Cup debut six years later, having won the Scottish U16 Championship and the Hampshire Rose.

After two years of regional training Alice became a member of the England Girls squad from 2013-14. She was promoted to the Women’s Squad in 2015 for the next three years.

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Investec South African Women’s Open winner Alice Hewson, from Berkhamsted GC, claimed her maiden win in her first LET start at Westlake GC. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

ALICE Hewson kicked off her professional career with the best possible start by winning the Investec South African Women’s Open on her first start.

The 22-year-old rookie member of the Ladies European Tour came from three shots behind overnight leader Olivia Cowan to win by a shot, at Cape Town’s Westlake Golf Club.

Hewson, a member at Berkhamsted Golf Club, in Hertfordshire, said: “I couldn’t have hoped for a better start.

“It feels absolutely incredible and it really is a dream come true. Growing up as a kid, all I could ever dream of was playing on the Ladies European Tour and to come and win my first event, the feeling is indescribable.”

Hewson, who turned professional in September and finished fifth at LET Qualifying School, in January, said: “This has definitely happened a lot quicker than I thought it would.

“I was hoping to get off to a nice steady start, but this is definitely a good thing.”

Hewson birdied the first hole in the final round of the South African Women’s Open.

And although Alice bogeyed the third, she quickly clawed another shot back on the fourth hole, moving to five-under par.

She entered a four-way share of the lead after nine holes, and then took the sole advantage after the three players in the final group all bogeyed the 10th hole.

With a bogey of her own on the 11th, Hewson dropped back into a share of the lead, but then broke away from the pack with a birdie on the long 13th hole – and the rest of the field was unable to catch her.

While the rest of the golf world was going into lockdown because of the cornonavirus pandemic – which forced The Players’ Championship to be abandoned at Sawgrass 24 hours earlier, Hewson had the world stage to herself briefly.

Berkhamsted’s Euorpean Ladies Amateur Champion Alice Hewson holes on the 18th green – which turned out to be the winning shot. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

It could have been a shaky finish for a lesser player, as Alice found trouble under the trees on 18.

Her second shot hit some branches, causing the ball to drop back down into the rough.

But the first Englishwoman to play a competitive round at Augusta nearly a a year ago, played a gutsy chip shot up to the green.

And then the veteran of two Curtis Cups holed a seven-foot par putt to complete a round of 71, to post a five-under total.

Hewson added: “The 18th was a bit of a highlight because I was in a bit of trouble off the tee and was still in trouble after my third shot.

“I think another highlight would be the par-five 13th, because I made a solid birdie there,” said the 2019 European Ladies’ Amateur Champion.

“Most of the week my putting has been very good, and my driving,” said the Clemson University graduate.

“I just went out there to play my own game. This golf course can play pretty tough and it’s going to give some shots back to you.

“So I tried to keep my game super steady and make some birdies.”

When asked if she was concerned about whether the tournament should have been played, given the coronavirus pandemic, Hewson said: “I think it was definitely the right decision that we continued playing this week – and it’s also the right decision that future tournaments have been cancelled.

“Everyone was already here and there is a very low risk here. So it was nice to be able to play some golf, because we don’t know how long it’s going to be now before we will again.”

Hewson finished a stroke ahead of Sweden’s Emma Nilsson and South African Monique Smit, who both recorded career-best finishes of second on the LET.

•For final results at the South African Women’s Open click here.

Investec Order Of Merit Winner Monique Smit. Picture by SHAUN ROY

Smit win’s Sunshine Ladies Order of Merit

MONIQUE Smit’s joint runner-up finish in the South African Women’s Open also saw her leapfrog fellow LET member Stacy Bregman to win the Sunshine Ladies Tour’s Investec Order of Merit

Smit said: “This is unreal. Right now, it’s very surreal. Standing over the final putt, I knew I had to hole it and I just felt extremely confident. That putt earned me my travel money for the year.

“My mom passed away last year and in every tournament this season, I’ve thought of her because she always used to caddie for me on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

“Today, facing that final putt, I really felt her and that putt was for my mom,” said an emotional Smit.

Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald, Belgian Manon de Roey and France’s Manon Gidali were tied for fourth, while Cowan, from Germany, finished tied for seventh.

The leading amateur was former Youth Olympian Kaiyuree Moodley, who finished in a tie for 46^th place.

Kaiyuree Moodley winner of the Jacky Mercer Trophy for the leading amateur at the Investec South African Women’s Open at Westlake Golf Club. Picture by SHAUN ROY

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HERTFORDSHIRE’S England international Alice Hewson booked herself a place in this week’s AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn, after producing a last day charge to win the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Dorset’s Parkstone Golf Club.

Hewson, from Berkhamsted, started the final day just inside the top 20 after opening rounds of 72, 70 and 73.

But the 21-year-old stormed though the field with a six-under par 66 that included six birdies and two eagles.

That was enough to see her tie at the top of the leaderboard with Finland’s Krista Junkkari on seven-under.

The pair were still level after a three-hole play-off before the two-time Curtis Cup player won with a par at the second hole of sudden-death.

The new champion becomes just the fourth English player after Emma Duggleby (2000), Joanne Morley (1992) and most recently Bronte Law (2016) to lift the trophy.

The Clemson University player can now look forward to spending the next week in the company of the world’s best players as they compete for this year’s fifth women’s major at Woburn.

“This is incredible,” said the Berkhamsted player moments after holing the winning putt. “Going into today I just went out there and tried to get as low as I could. I was brave out there and it paid off.

“I was quite far out of it this morning. I played really solid earlier in the week without really getting anywhere but today I made a lot of eagles and birdies.

“As I said before, I just tried to be brave. I gave my putts a little extra and it worked.

“Playing in the Women’s British Open is going to be absolutely incredible,” added Alice who was the first Englishwoman to play a competitve round at Augusta, in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, in April.

Hewson, who can’t wait to tee it up in the Women’s British Open against the best players from the LPGA and LET, said: “It’s going to be my first major and being so close to home will to make it even more special. I can’t wait to get started.

“I’d also like to pay tribute to Krista,” she added. “It was a really great play-off. She played absolutely great all week.

“She’s been there or thereabouts all week. She made four pars in the play-off at a time when she was probably just as nervous as me. She played really well.”

Further down the leaderboard Italy’s Caterina Don closed with a two-under par 70 to clinch third place, while Norway’s Franziska Sliper played the shot of the day when she holed out for an albatross on the sixth on her way to finishing fourth after posting a 68.

It was also a great week for Hewson’s England international team-mate Annabell Fuller, from Roehampton, while Western Australian Kirsten Rudgeley, finished tied-fifth.

She finished alongside Scotland’s Hannah Darling who fired a bogey-free 68 to lead after three rounds. Darling, who celebrated her 16th birthday last week, was bidding to become the first Scot to claim the European title,

Darling, the second youngest player in the 144-player field, said after her third round: “Obviously it’s a big tournament but it’s still the same golf course.

“There’s no pressure on me to be honest, I’m only 16, so I’m just going to enjoy it and see what happens in the end,” added the Broomieknowe member.

Her final round 77 left her in a six-way share of fifth alongside Sweden’s Linn Grant, Denmark’s Karen Fredgaard and Italy’s Virginia Bossi.

Rudgeley, the current Western Australian Amateur Champion, who made her debut in the Toyota Junior World Golf Cup in June, will play the English and British Girls, as well as the English Ladies Strokeplay while visiting the UK in her bid to improve her world ranking.

Kirsten has spent recent summers playing in England to broaden her experience.

For full scores from the European Ladies Amateur Championship can be found at the European Golf Association’s website here.

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