The 36th edition of the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship takes place this week in Sweden.
144 players representing 31 different countries will compete in the four-round stroke play event this year, which features a 54-hole cut for the top-60 and ties.
First played in 1986, the championship regularly attracts the top female amateur players from Europe and further afield.
Tegelberga Golf course, located 20 minutes from Malmö in the south of Sweden, will provide the test for the players this week. The heathland-style course, susceptible to strong winds, is sure to challenge all 144 teeing it up.
Several major champions and Solheim Cup players have medaled in the European Ladies' Amateur Championship in the past including:
- 1st Celine Boutier (FRA) 2012
- 1st Sophia Popov (GER) 2010
- 1st Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 2009 & 2007
- 1st Carlota Ciganda (SPA) 2008 & 2004
- 3rd Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 2005
- 3rd Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 2000
Three of the world’s top-10 amateurs will follow in their footsteps and tee it up in Sweden this week. Ingrid Lindblad (SWE) (1st), Charlotte Heath (ENG) (7th) and Julia Lopez Ramirez (8th) are the favourites on paper.
Hannah Darling (SCO), Helen Briem (GER), Lottie Woad (ENG) and Meja Örtengren are all also amongst the favourites this week, currently being ranked inside the world’s top-15 amateurs.
In total, 28 of the WAGR top-100 will tee it up at Tegelberga. This list includes Belgian player Savannah de Bock, who enters the week as the defending champion. Two more previous winners will look for a second European title this week, namely Ingrid Lindblad (SWE) (2021) and Paula Schulz-Hanssen (GER) (2020).
Led by Ingrid Lindblad, the hosts will be well represented this year, with 20 players on the starting list, including six inside WAGR’s top-50.
Spain is the second most represented country this week, with 17 players in the field. Less than two weeks ago the Spanish ladies’ and girls’ teams were both crowned as European Team Champions, meaning it will be no surprise if multiple Spanish players are in contention come Saturday. Amongst them is Rocio Tejedo, who is yet to finish outside the top-three in a European event this year. The 17-year-old has won the Portuguese International Amateur, the Copa Sotogrande and the German Girls Open so far this year and will definitely be one to watch this week.
Six English players will look to take inspiration from the fact that the last time the event was played in Sweden, an English player emerged with the title. Bronte Law (ENG) won the title in 2016 at Hooks GC, and was the last English player to do so. Charlotte Heath is the highest ranked amongst them, and will look to go one better than last year, after losing to Savannah de Bock in a playoff at Golf de Saint-Germain.
Livescoring and updates can be followed throughout the week on the championship webpage below:
