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| Garrett, Verchenova and Zuel, |
“I’m really looking forward to this year. Personally I’ve tried to work as hard as I could to try to reach my potential a bit more than I have been doing in recent years. If I do that and everything I possibly can I’d be really happy. I’d like to be more consistent and be in and around the top ten each week. I’ll play all the tournaments, and I’m thinking of going to LPGA Q School, but that’s at the end of the year.”
Gradually, Zuel is learning to compete on the Ladies European Tour, but there are three young English women in the top 15 on the Henderson Money List all jostling for position. Zuel, Melissa Reid and Florentyna Parker are ranked 12th, 13th and 14th respectively.
Speaking of up-and-coming Brits, a little down the list, it is worth keeping an eye on Scotland’s Vikki Laing, Krystle Caithness and Carly Booth, the 17-year-old who turned professional in December.
England’s Laura Davies, who became the LET’s oldest winner at the Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open in February aged 46, remains the Brit to beat in top spot on the list. She is hoping to secure the first prize of €30,000 on her first trip to Turkey.
Other players to watch include Becky Brewerton from Wales, Iben Tinning from Denmark, Paula Marti from Spain, Australian Nikki Garrett and Russian Maria Verchenova.
National Golf Club has undergone an intensive course-conditioning programme recently in preparation for the tournament. The par-73 championship golf course at the facility was designed by Ryder Cup player David Feherty and Seniors Tour player David Jones.
The tournament will start with a Pro-Am on May 6, followed by two rounds of competition on Friday May 7 and Saturday May 8. The top 50 players and ties after two rounds will compete in the final round on Sunday May 9 for a prize fund of €200,000.
