Ines Laklalech Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Ines Laklalech’s star rises further as she becomes first Arab golfer to secure LPGA card, says Morocco’s World Cup run inspired her

Matt Smith — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 06:16:28 +0000

By Matt Smith
Ines Laklalech spent a lot of 2022 setting new landmarks in the world of golf — and she managed what might be her biggest yet just before the end of the year.

The Moroccan 25-year-old, who became the first Arab, male or female, to win on a major tour when she claimed the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville as she defeated Meghan MacLaren in a playoff at Golf Barrière in September, secured her LPGA Tour card at the weekend over eight long rounds of Q-School that finished in Alabama on Sunday.

Ines Laklalech won in France in September on the LET. LET

The Casablanca native finished T12 on 19-under, well inside the top 45 that earned their cards.

It was only two years ago that Laklalech teed it up at the inaugural Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens as a young amateur and now she has stamped her place as one of the sporting stars of Morocco, North Africa and the Arab world.

Laklalech, who also competed at the Saudi International in March and narrowly missed the cut, now has the world at her clubface.

There is another mission that drives Laklalech to do her best and that is to inspire the next generation of Arab girls across the world, who she believes — like her — have greater opportunity than ever before to chase their own ambitions.

Ines Laklalech was one of 45 players to earn their LPGA Tour card. LPGA

Laklalech, who holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from University College London, said: “I’m excited to see what the next years hold for me. Anything new is exciting, and this elite golf is all new to me.”

Laklalech said Morocco’s run to the Fifa World Cup semi-finals inspired her ahead of her final round. “I’m a big fan of the Moroccan national team so I’m super, super happy,” the BBC reported Laklalech as saying. “It definitely gave me an extra boost on the course. I’ve been watching very closely what the national coach is saying about the team because it’s history. His words really gave me confidence that everything is possible, because that’s their mindset right now. I think it’s all connected and related because I’ve been watching videos of the press conferences every single day.”

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Ines Laklalech hoping Morocco’s ‘incredible’ male golfers can follow her rise to glory – starting at this week’s International Series

Golf Digest Middle East — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 10:58:05 +0000

ByGolfDigestME.com
Morocco’s first ever Tour-level golf champion Ines Laklalech believes this week’s International Series event in Rabat will be the launchpad for the country’s next generation of golf stars.

No less than 10 of Morocco’s finest professional and amateur golfers have earned the chance to tee it up against some of the biggest names in world golf at the Asian Tour’s flagship $1.5 million International Series Morocco tournament, which tees off on Thursday at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

Professionals Ayoub Lguirati, Yassine Touhami, Othmane Raouzi, Ayoub Id-Omar, Ahmed Marjan and Karim El Hali carry Morocco’s greatest chance of a strong performance at the four-day event, with highly rated amateurs El Mehdi Fakori, Hugo Mazen Trommetter, Mohammed Nizar Bourehim and Adam Bresnu also looking to make an impression.

All 10 players will be able to source inspiration from 25-year-old countrywoman Laklalech, who earlier this year became Morocco’s first ever golfer to win a professional title, with victory in September’s Lacoste Ladies Open De France on the Ladies European Tour.

MORE: Laklalech ready to make more history in Jeddah

Laklalech firmly believes the talent is there amongst Morocco’s rising male stars — and is hoping that this week’s event will act as a springboard for Moroccan golf looking forward.

She said: “I’ve been following the guys’ results for the last couple of years and when there’s a national event, I’m always watching. It would be amazing if a Moroccan player can win this tournament — and I’m sure they can, because we have incredible talents here in Morocco.

“They’re working hard and they have really nice courses here. I just think they’re maybe lacking a bit of experience, and that’s all they’re missing. If they just keep playing, they will have some great results in the future, that’s for sure. And if not in this tournament, then it will come. I’m very optimistic for the future of Moroccan golf.”

The debut International Series Morocco will play a key role in determining the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, as well as the maiden International Series money list winner.

The field is packed with big-name stars, with eight of the top-10 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, plus all four International Series winners to date — American Sihwan Kim (Thailand), Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (England), Thai Ntithorn Thippong (Singapore) and Korean Taehoon Ok (Korea) — all playing.

They will go head-to-head with the likes of Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, former Singapore Open champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, and Australian Brett Rumford, a two-time Asian Tour winner, while James Piot, Chase Koepka, Wade Ormsby, Turk Pettit and David Puig are some of the big-name LIV Golf stars competing.

Laklalech is delighted to see this level of competition return to her home country.

She said: “When I got the news the International Series was coming to Morocco, I was very happy because the DP World Tour event has been set aside for a few years, and this would mean a big tournament coming to Morocco again, which is great.

“We have a lot of great players and I’m really happy for them, being able to play in an event like this. It’s also going to allow the young kids from all over Morocco to come and watch the guys play up close, and that will be a great inspiration for so many of them. That’s how it worked for me: I got inspired when I was watching the Lalla Meryem Cup in Rabat, so now having an Asian Tour event in Morocco is for sure going to grow Moroccan golf.”

Asked about the challenge the players can expect to encounter on Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Rouge course, Laklalech said: “It is a very, very nice course, but very tricky. I think the biggest challenge for the guys this weekend is going to be getting the right tee shot, because it’s pretty narrow with a few obstacles, and when you get the ball in the rough, it’s tough to get near to the hole.

“The greens are also pretty firm and fast, so I think the main thing would be to just put your ball on the fairway to have a good chance and create your opportunities.”

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Matt Smith — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 07:47:22 +0000

By Matt Smith
Catch the latest issue of Golf Digest Middle East, as Chiara Noja and the cream of women’s golf get set for the Aramco Team Series finale in Jeddah, and Dubai prepares for the DP World Tour Championship, with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy coming to town. Also, find out about a stay & play holiday on your doorstep in Muscat, while Shergo Al Kurdi and Claude Harmon III give you an insight into the first season of LIV Golf. Catch up with Alex Riggs and Lea Pouillard as they have some vital tips on how to improve your game, while Matt Fitzpatrick reveals some tricks of the trade.

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Ines Laklalech: Ready to make more history

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 07:27:49 +0000

Photo by Tristan Jones/LET

Moroccan prepares to revisit the place where it all began at KAEC

By Matt Smith
The Arab world discovered a new star in September when Morocco’s Ines Laklalech claimed her first crown on the Ladies European Tour.

The 24-year-old made history at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville as she defeated Meghan MacLaren in a playoff at Golf Barrière.

With the victory she became the first Moroccan, Arab, and North African woman to win a title on the Ladies European Tour.

Now she is aiming to make more history as she prepares for the Aramco Team Series — Jeddah event from November 10-12.

It was only two years ago that Laklalech teed it up at the inaugural Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens as a young amateur and now she is coming back to KAEC for the ATS finale as a professional as her first full season on as a Ladies European Tour card-holder comes to a close.

The Casablanca native, who also competed at the Saudi International in March and narrowly missed the cut, is aiming to show what she can do back in Jeddah now she has that first LET victory under her belt.

Laklalech, who holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from University College London, said earlier this year: “The Saudi Ladies International was actually the first LET event I played as an amateur back in 2020 and I made the cut. In 2020 it was a great, great tournament and experience, I loved it — particularly because it was in an Arab country, which to me made it even more special.”

Laklalech now knows the course a little better and knows what to watch out for.

“I know what to expect a little more,” she said of Royal Greens. “The course is great, the windy conditions mean things can get very interesting and tough out there.”

That debut Aramco Saudi Ladies International back in 2020 was a landmark moment for women’s sport within the Kingdom as it was the first ever professional, international women’s sporting event to be held in Saudi Arabia.

Now, there is no looking back as the Aramco Team Series returns for its second edition in Saudi Arabia.

“For me, the high-level golf always happened in the US and Europe,” Laklalech said. “Now today, we’re seeing such a strong field of players playing in both the men’s and women’s events in Saudi Arabia. I would never have thought of competitive golf being played in Saudi Arabia before, especially a women’s event. To see this now though is so good for the future of golf and for all women in the Arab world.

“This shows Arab women that if they want to make a living out of their passion — be that in sport or anything else — they can, just as much as a man would. It shows that women can play competitive sports no matter what their background and no matter where they’re from.”

Laklalech first lifted a golf club aged 10 in one of the few places in Casablanca “with a green field and lots of trees”, and quickly going on to join then beat the boys’ club — of which she was one of only two girl members — at her local course, aged only 12.

“I’m excited to see what the next years hold for me,” said Laklalech. “Anything new is exciting, and this elite golf is all new to me.”

Laklalech is only the second Arab woman to play on the LET, following fellow Moroccan Maha Haddioui, and now she is looking ahead to the future following her victory in France.

“I’ve always had very strong women in the family who I look up to. I’m hoping more North African and African women can accomplish things in sports and just pursue their dreams,” she told the BBC in Deauville.

“There is no difference between the African woman or the European one. I hope this win can prove that it is possible. I got a very warm welcome from the Moroccans who came to congratulate me at the airport, with even the policemen saying congratulations. I’m just very humbled by that and happy about it.

“Before the start of the season, I wrote down my goals. Starting a professional career, you have a certain time to get comfortable at the first tournaments. I didn’t make the first three cuts. I was very tense, very nervous. After that, there was just a click that I can’t really explain, and that made me play to my potential without thinking of what I was doing.

“I’m very happy that I passed this first step. Now I can focus on other things that I’m dreaming of.”

One dream would certainly be either holding aloft the individual or team titles in Jeddah on November 12, in front of an Arab crowd.

The post Ines Laklalech: Ready to make more history appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

History-maker: Rookie Ines Laklalech bags first Ladies European Tour title

Matt Smith — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 14:44:54 +0000

By Matt Smith
The Arab world has a new star as Ines Laklalech claimed her first crown on the Ladies European Tour.

The 24-year-old made history at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville as she defeated Meghan MacLaren in a playoff at Golf Barrière.

Laklalech started the last day with a one-stroke lead but MacLaren had taken the advantage after five holes in the final round. The Englishwoman held a two-stroke lead with four holes to play but Laklalech birdied the long 16th and then MacLaren bogeyed the short 17th, meaning that the pair were tied coming to the par-4 18th hole.

After taking regulation pars and tying on 14-under-par 199, the pair returned to the 18th tee for a play-off, but this time, MacLaren put her drive into the long rough on the left of the fairway and couldn’t get her ball out at the first attempt. She had to take a penalty drop and played her fourth shot onto the green, whereas Laklalech reached the front of the green in two blows.

After MacLaren made a six, Laklalech won with a five and was able to celebrate becoming the first Arab woman to claim an LET title with her husband, Ali, who is also her caddie.

“It feels amazing,” said a tearful Laklalech. “It’s special to hear it. I don’t have any words to describe this.

“I’m surprised because the last time I was in contention was in Sweden at the Skaftö Open and I lost it over the last few holes. I was just too tense physically and I was very, very surprised with the way I felt physically today. I didn’t control anything. I felt sure that the past experience in Sweden would help me today and it did. I just played my game, played quite well and I’m just so happy.

“Of course going to the tee box in the playoff I felt very nervous but I hit a good shot and it was unfortunate how it ended, because Meghan didn’t have a good lie, but I feel like this is a two-in-one. I experienced a play-off and a victory at the same time. This is definitely something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Laklalech is a big fan of Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur and she hopes that her victory will inspire more Arabic girls to follow their dreams to play on Tour. “Morocco is doing a great job in promoting golf and I think having a Moroccan winning on a major tour will be huge for the country and for the Arab world in general,” she said.

Following her victory, Laklalech climbed 38 places to 14th on the Race to Costa del Sol and MacLaren moved up three spots to sixth.

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Arab star Ines Laklalech leads the way on Ladies European Tour in France

Matt Smith — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 07:31:00 +0000

By Matt Smith
Ines Laklalech, the young Moroccan golfer who became only the second Arab woman to play on the Ladies European Tour, stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the French Open, thanks to a brilliant six-under 65 at Golf Barrière Deauville.

The 24-year-old shares the first-round lead with Meghan MacLaren and Nastasia Nadaud, while world No. 14 Celine Boutier is among six players tied for fourth place on four-under-par. The defending champion is joined by Anne-Lise Caudal, Smilla Tarning Soenderby, Anais Meysonnier, Klara Spilkova and Leonie Harm.

Moroccan Laklalech, who fired seven birdies and one bogey in the windier afternoon conditions, said: “I’m really pleased because I didn’t feel good on the practice range this morning but I went shot by shot and I’m happy with the way I finished my day. I couldn’t reach all of the par 5s but I just adapted my shots depending on what the wind was telling me to do. I think the difficult part was the tee shots and you had to focus hard on that.”

England’s MacLaren added: “I got off to a bit of a slow start but on the back nine everything fell into place. I think I gradually got more confident. I’ve been struggling a little bit lately and I felt quite good at the beginning of this week but at the start of my round I still wasn’t playing with the kind of freedom that I would do whenever I feel at my best. The longer the round went on I started to trust myself and I felt really good on the greens, which always helps. It’s just a combination of things clicking into place.”

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