Olivia Cowan Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Georgia Hall and Olivia Cowan ready for the big Aramco Team Series finale in Jeddah

Matt Smith — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:13:32 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Star female golfers Georgia Hall and Olivia Cowan are in confident mood and excited to tee it up at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club this week in the final Aramco Team Series event of the year.

Hall returns to Jeddah following incredible recent success in King Abdullah Economic City after winning the Aramco Saudi Ladies International here in March, while Olivia Cowan is in the form of her career after winning her first Ladies European Tour title in the Hero Women’s Indian Open two weeks ago.

Both are relishing the opportunity to be back in Saudi Arabia this week with Hall saying: “I love coming back here. I really like this golf course. It is one of my favourites to play in my season and it is always in great condition. The weather is always good, and the wind can get up quite a bit in the afternoons which makes the course have a linksy feel which I really enjoy.

“There are some tough holes out there, but I can also reach pretty much every par 5 which is nice so that gives me some really good eagle opportunities and the chance to try and shoot some low rounds. Every time we come here as players, we also get really well looked after, so it’s just a really fun week.”

Olivia Cowan. Golf Saudi

Cowan echoed the sentiments of Hall and added: “I feel really confident about my game at the moment coming off the back of that first win in India. I’m just really looking forward to playing this course, I really love playing it and being back here in Jeddah. It’s challenging and fun to play in, and the team event makes it a bit more relaxing. I just love coming back here and can’t wait for the week to get going.”

The tournament draft took place on Wednesday evening where the teams for this week’s event were selected. Each of the 36 captains have one individual pick, before they are allocated a random player at the draft, with the team element of the tournament being decided after day two of the event. Individual player scores are then carried over to the final day as an individual winner is crowned.

Hall will be joined in her team by young compatriot Lily May Humphreys, as well as French golfer Anais Meyssonnier. Cowan used her pick to select young English star Cara Gainer, while Team Cowan will be completed by another English player in Rachael Goodall.

Other standout teams are Team Charley Hull with the highest ranked player in the field selecting Isabella Deilert, and being allocated Moroccan star Maha Haddioui, while Team Alison Lee will be completed by Camilla Lennarth and Diksha Dagar.

Defending individual champion Pia Babnik will be joined by Kristyna Napoleaova and Lauren Taylor for the first two days of competition as she looks to start her title defence in the best way.

All teams will be completed by a championship amateur which differentiates the Aramco Team Series as unique and innovative and both Hall and Cowan believe golf’s global series as been an extremely welcome addition to the Ladies European Tour schedule.

Hall said: “It is fantastic to get this support from Aramco and Golf Saudi and having the five events on the calendar of the Ladies European Tour has really boosted the Tour. I know speaking to a lot of players, they are really grateful for that support.

“All the players just really enjoy coming to these events, it’s something different and just brings a different aspect to the game.”

Cowan emphasised Hall’s opinion adding: “The set up and everything they do for the players is amazing. The weeks are set up like a major and the Aramco Team Series puts a lot of effort into the event and looking after the players for the week. We really appreciate that and hope other companies continue to show the same support for growing women’s golf.”

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Olivia Cowan is true to her word with maiden LET title in India

Matt Smith — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:00:19 +0000

By Matt Smith
When Olivia Cowan spoke to Golf Digest Middle East in July, she was waiting for her first victory on the Ladies European Tour.

The German insisted she was happy with her game and if she keeps doing what she is doing, that elusive victory would come soon enough.

True to her word, on Sunday in her 96th start on the LET, Cowan was holding aloft hew maiden trophy thanks to a brilliant final round of 68 to win the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Prior to the weekend, she had achieved 27 top-10 finishes, but had yet to taste victory. All that changed at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Cowan’s 13-under 275 total allowed her to ease to a three-stroke victory ahead of home favourite Amandeep Drall and Caroline Hedwall and claim the silverware and the $60,000 winner’s cheque.

The emotional 26-year-old said: “I have come close a few times, but I am so happy to get over the line. I love coming here and this is going to be one of my most memorable moments and I will come back again to try and win this trophy again.”

“I was quite relaxed. To be honest. The whole weekend. I wasn’t really thinking of winning this time. I just wanted to go out there and have a good mindset and just play good golf. I was playing good golf so I just decided to trust that and come out today and just see what happens.”

#LETWinnerSelfie with @TitleistEurope golf ball loyalist @OliviaCowan who won the #HWIO2022 with her @Titleist Pro V1 ??#RaiseOurGame | #AlwaysBringYourBest pic.twitter.com/pC4PPAwNCg

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) October 23, 2022

Cowan’s previous two visits to India produced finishes of T19 in 2017 and T9 in 2018 and this year her best on the Tour was T4 in her home event, the Amundi German Masters.

“I was aware of what can happen even on the last hole,” Cowan, who let a two-stroke lead slip at last year’s Aramco Team Series — Jeddah. “In the morning before the start, I knew I had a chance because I was only one back. But on the course, I was not comfortable or sure until the end, because anything can happen.

“Maybe after the birdie on 17th, I felt I could win, but on this course nothing is for sure.”

Victory for Cowan sees her move up to 19th in the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol standings, with 890.37 points from 13 events.

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Ladies European Tour now a tour de force for Olivia Cowan

Matt Smith — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 08:48:04 +0000

Thanks to events such as the Aramco Team Series, things have never looked brighter for the ladies game

By Matt Smith
Olivia Cowan is back and raring to go as the Ladies European Tour (LET) continues to embrace its new look and increased prize money.

The German star has caused a stir since she joined the LET in 2016, with her name seemingly a permanent fixture near the top of leaderboards most weeks.

Twelve months ago, Olivia won her first LET title when she claimed the innovative team crown at the inaugural Aramco Team Series (ATS) — London alongside Sarina Schmidt and Diksha Dagar.

With the event having just returned to Centurion Club for the second time at the end of June, the ATS continues to grow in popularity — among both the fans and players. England’s Bronte Law claimed the individual title and Team Nicole Garcia overcame Team Ursula Wikstrom in a dramatic final-day play-off at St Albans.

For the second year running, Centurion Club hosted more than 100 golfers (hot on the heels of the inaugural LIV Golf tournament for the men) to compete in the 54-hole individual competition alongside a team event for combined prize fund of $1 million.

Cowan, runner-up in the individual event in Jeddah last year, finished T37 on a return from injury, and also managed to add to her impressive time in the Aramco events with a hole-in-one on Day 2 at Centurion this time around. And it is fair to say she is a fan of the new-look series.

“I’d say, since these events have come on tour they are among my favourites, especially London as I have done well there and I always get a lot of support,” Olivia told Golf Digest Middle East.

“A lot of people you know come out to follow you, so that’s always fun.”

MORE: Whirlwind time for LET’s Whitney Hillier

Olivia admitted that days before the Aramco Team Series was due to begin at Centurion Club she had not hit a golf ball in a long time due to a ‘tennis elbow’ injury.

“I was injured so my preparations have not been ideal,” she explained. “I was resting and getting my injury sorted. I had lateral epicondylitis, but it is feeling a lot better.”

The ladies game, and LET in particular, is enjoying increased exposure around the world these days thanks to investment from Golf Saudi and Aramco, who have added $5 million to the prize money this season through the five Aramco events, plus more competitions getting live broadcasts on TV and online. Cowan is welcoming the extra attention and the innovative new competitions.

“I think it is great that someone is taking an interest in women’s golf and they are trying to help us along with our future,” she said.

“Aramco have come in and put these events on around the world. They are obviously different to a normal tournament as they are team events — this is something we have all been missing.

“We grew up playing amateur golf and with the national teams, where you did have team events and we all loved it. So to bring that aspect back and bring it into the professional side was something that was missing, and they knew it, and it is great that they have helped up with that.

“They have also really helped with the financial side of things, it is just really great. We are now seeing a lot of players coming from the LPGA and wanting to be a part of it because it is quite lonely on tour — golf is quite an individual sport — so to be able to take part in something different and be in a team for a week, it is just a lot more fun.

“Everyone looks forward these events.”

With the team win last year and a hole-in-one at ATS — London 2022, Centurion Club is fast becoming a favourite place to play for Olivia. She is also delighted to see the men’s game get in on the act thanks to the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which saw the likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia compete for a total prize pot of $25 million (individual winner Charl Schwartzel took home $4 million, along with a share of an additional $3 million with his fellow ‘Stingers’ Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Hennie Du Plessis for claiming the inaugural team crown).

“I really like the course, it is a lot of fun to play and there are some quirky holes out there,” she said. “The LIV event is great too, as I think it is what golf needs at the moment. It just needs a few different ways to show off the game. So I think it is great.”

She hinted at widening the LIV scope to make it a mixed event like the recent Trust Golf competitions on the Asian Tour and the Scandinavian Mixed, which was won by the LET’s Linn Grant — the first time a female has won a DP World Tour event.

Photo courtesy of Hublot

“I am a bit sad I am not playing the LIV events,” Olivia said with a smile. “I think the girls could participate too at some point. I think that would be good fun.”

Give it some time, Olivia, you never know…

While Olvia claimed the team title at ATS last year, she has yet to add to her three LET Access Series individual crowns since taking the step up to the full tour in 2016. A swath of top-10 finishes over the next few years culminated in a career-best T2 at the 2019 Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic before COVID-19 took its toll on golf around the world. But with golf back in full swing, Olivia is also back and still hunting that elusive top spot.

“I am confident in my game,” she said. “I have always been a steady player. I’ve always not had too many mistakes and I have always been up there. I guess I am just waiting for that little bit of luck to get me that win. But I am very confident looking ahead.

“Having a good mindset really helps, and I am excited going forward.”

Not surprisingly, Olivia has fond memories of her time in the UAE at the day/night Dubai Moonlight Classic — another innovation on the LET.

“Again, I think it great they are coming up with different ways to show off our sport, and show that you can play night golf,” she said. “I think it is great we have it on the schedule and it is a lot of fun.

“It can be tougher at sunset as you go from light into dark, it can mess with your eyesight, but it is a whole lot of fun.”

With the conclusion of the Scandinavian Mixed, Olivia is keen to see even more variety on tour to ‘mix’ things up along with the traditional tournaments. “I think there should be more mixed events and crossovers on tour,” she said. “Whenever I speak to players — girls or the guys — they all say they would love to see more mixed events as they are a lot of fun, too. Of course we already have the one in Sweden (Scandinavian), and it is always good fun showing the guys what we have to offer.

“It is always hard to set them up to be fair, and there will always be critics, but that is the same for all golf.

“There should be more of it. I actually think there should be a team mixed event — one guy, one girl together in a matchplay format, I think that would be a lot of fun.”

This is a concept that has been raised for future Olympics, and Olivia is all for it.

“I actually played at the Youth Olympics, and we had a completely different set up from the actual Olympics,” she explained. “It was just one girl and one boy, and we had three days of individual event and then three days of mixed, three different types of foursomes and that was the best. I was a bit surprised the Olympics didn’t do something like that. I thought that would have been interesting.”

With more refreshing changes arriving in golf, maybe it will only be a matter of time.

The post Ladies European Tour now a tour de force for Olivia Cowan appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Aramco Team Series — London 2022: Hayley Davis sizzles at Centurion to take two-stroke lead

Matt Smith — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 18:15:22 +0000

Hayley Davis in action at the Aramco Team Series in London. Tristan Jones/LET

By Matt Smith
England’s Hayley Davis shot a second-round 68 to go with her opening 69 to move into a two-stroke lead at nine-under at Centurion Club, St Albans, for the 2022 Aramco Team Series — London.

The youngster, who says Abu Dhabi Golf Club is her favourite course, shot seven birdies and two bogeys to take over at the top on Friday from Sweden’s Sofie Bringner, who was among the afternoon starters. Unfortunately, she had a tough day, and a six-over 69 dropped her down to a share of 16th.

Spain’s Maria Hernandez also had a fine Friday, shooting 66 to move up to joint-fifth spot on five-under. Bronte Law’s 71 took her to seven-under, two behind Davis in second spot, with Georgia Hall, the Aramco Ladies International champion, sitting in T3 alongside Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall on six-under.

WATCH: Highlights from Day 1 of ARAMCO Team Series — London

Meanwhile, Olivia Cowan shot the event’s first hole-in-one on the second at Centurion.

The German, who has just recovered from injury (tennis elbow), was struggling on Thursday and signed for a five-over 78 but an ace early on gave her the chance to make it the final day’s action on Saturday on the cutline at four-over.

? ??? ????? ?@OliviaCowan has aced the par-3 2nd hole @CenturionClub for her fourth hole-in-one & first on the LET. Congrats Olivia ??#RaiseOurGame | #BringTheEnergy pic.twitter.com/i8VHBLTpqC

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 17, 2022

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Aramco Team Series — London: Saudi Ladies International champ Georgia Hall and Swede Sofie Bringner set early pace at Centurion Club

Matt Smith — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 05:02:25 +0000

Tristan Jones/LET

By Matt Smith
Home hope Georgia Hall and Swede Sofie Bringner got off to a flier among the early starters at the Aramco Team Series — London.

The 2018 British Open champion Hall is looking to further strengthen her bond with the Middle East after claiming the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in March.

That @georgiahall96 club twirl ?#RaiseOurGame | #BringTheEnergy pic.twitter.com/FEv08e3bH4

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) June 16, 2022

The 26-year-old also lost out to Emily Kristine Pedersen in the 2020 Saudi Ladies International in a sudden-death playoff, and she looks in a determined mood to take another Aramco title, this time in the Team Series at Centurion Club, St Albans, just outside London.

Watch: Highlights from the Aramco Team Series first round

[parone_video_player campaign=”262″ defaultlang=”en” feed=”51-all-videos”/]

The Bournemouth native shot 67 to lead fellow English golfer Bronte Law by one, as the afternoon starters — including the likes of Charley Hull, Annabel Dimmock and Olivia Cowan — got under way.

However, a first bogey at the last for Hall, coupled with a stunning birdie, birdie, eagle finish for Bringner allowed the Swede to sign for a 66 and a one-stroke lead at the top.

Dutch duo Anne Van Dam and Pasqualle Coffa also made fine starts with a pair of 69s to sit on four-under.

In the afternoon, Jenny Haglund joined Hall on six-under to make it a Swedend, England, Sweden, England leaderboard. A whole host of players lurk on four-under, including England’s Hull and Johanna Gustavsson, from — you guessed it — Sweden.

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The post Aramco Team Series — London: Saudi Ladies International champ Georgia Hall and Swede Sofie Bringner set early pace at Centurion Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Aramco Team Series — Familiar faces back together as captains make their team picks for London

Matt Smith — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:54:24 +0000

GolfDigestME.com
German pair Olivia Cowan and Sarina Schmidt have the chance to defend their Aramco Team Series – London team title this week after partnering up for the second year in a row in the tournament draft.

Captain Cowan chose to reunite with Schmidt in the hope of repeating their winning feat from last year’s debut Aramco event, which saw them triumph by three shots and claim the $1million tournament’s maiden fourball title.

That year India’s Diksha Dagar was their randomly assigned third teammate. This time around, French starlet Emma Grechi completes a line-up that will be expected to be in with a challenge this week at Centurion Club, St Albans.

Cowan, 26, said: “We’ve got the band back together, so it should be a good week! We did really well last year, mainly by just supporting each other. I think we’ll be good this year as well.

“I had a few options in the draft just in case Sarina was taken, but obviously I’m delighted I got to pick her.”

Schmidt added: “We had so much fun last year and liked pushing each other. When Olivia holed out for eagle in the final round last year, that was a turning point for us. Hopefully same again this week.”

The Aramco Team Series — London at Centurion Club

Australia’s Whitney Hillier used her captain’s pick to reunite with Finland’s Krista Bakker just a month after the pair won the Aramco Team Series – Bangkok team title together in the first ATS event of the season. Team Hillier will this week also feature Lisa Pettersson of Sweden.

“Krista’s got good vibes and she’s playing well, too, so that’s why I chose her,” said Hillier, whose title in Bangkok was her first in 10 years on the Ladies European Tour.

“We get on so well together – and I just met Lisa as well. She’s a good player too, so I’m excited to get playing tomorrow.”

Other notable captain’s picks included both Georgia Hall and Charley Hull going for the ‘full English’, selecting Lily May Humphreys and Annabel Dimmock respectively.

Former Women’s Open champion Hall said: “I’ve met Lily a few times. She is an up-and-coming player and I’m really excited to spend some time with her. She’s a good player so I look forward to it. It should be a good week.”

On her choice of Annabel Dimmock, Charley Hull said: “I’m just looking forward to having a bit of a laugh out there, so hopefully she just brings some giggles. She’s a pal and it will be a laugh out there.”

And on Norwegian Karoline Lund, who will complete the professional element of Team Hull, the 26-year-old added: “We’ll see if she can take on the English banter!”

Elsewhere, Chloe Williams was picked by fellow Welsh golfer Becky Morgan, with Scot Gabrielle Macdonald completing a Celtic pro-trio for Team Morgan.

Sweden’s Linn Grant – fresh from becoming the first woman to win a DP World Tour event after her nine-shot win at last weekend’s Scandinavian Mixed – also opted for a countrywoman pick, with Sofie Bringer her choice.

For the third time in Aramco Team Series history, Bronte Law selected her hero Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew as her pick.

“She’s a major champion and is a very good golfer,” said Law, who finished T6 in the U.S Women’s Open earlier this month. “I think this event requires stable players who can contribute frequently. Catriona is that person.”

This week’s London leg is the second of five $1million Aramco Team Series tournaments on the LET calendar for 2022. It is famed for its unique format, in which three LET professionals play in teams with one amateur player.

It returns to Centurion Club with a new format from last year’s inaugural Series. For this season, the teams will compete over only 36 holes – the Thursday and Friday of the tournament – with $500,000 prizemoney being split between the lowest scoring fourballs.

Saturday’s final day of play will see only the lowest scoring 60 players and ties from the opening two days return to the course to battle it out for a share of another $500,000, this time in individual earnings.

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LET stars attempt to replicate HV3’s winning 92ft eagle putt at Royal Greens. The results were, ahem, mixed…

Golf Digest Middle East — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 23:31:16 +0000

STROKE FOR THE AGES: (From L to R) Sinéad McGrath, Gabbie Partington, Olivia-Cowan and Mia Baker at the 92ft-putt challenge.

By Special Correspondent
It was a moment that will live long in the memory of golf fans around the world: Harold Varner III’s colossal 92ft eagle putt to win last month’s $5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

A month on, the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund challenged some of its biggest names to try their hand recreating the wonder-stroke. Major-winner Georgia Hall, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Olivia Cowan of Germany were just a few of the big-names to give it a try, alongside popular golf content creators Mia Baker and Sinéad McGrath, in a challenge hosted by TV favourite, Gabbie Partington.

Needless to say, they had mixed results. Enjoy!

An outrageous 90ft putt won @SaudiIntlGolf this year for @HV3_Golf ?

Can it be done again? Find out here ? https://t.co/wjHuYKIKvL pic.twitter.com/XdWI1LXt4I

— Aramco Saudi Ladies International (@AramcoLadiesInt) March 18, 2022

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With net eagles and even an albatross, a pair of amateurs hold sway in Saudi

Kent Gray — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:24:43 +0000

Captain Manon De Roey (middle) and team-mates Elina-Nummenpaa (left) and Carmen Alonso (right) lead the Aramco Team Series- Jeddah at 37-under-par.

By Kent Gray
When Golf Saudi imagined the Aramco Team Series into existence, a key tenet of the Pro-Am concept was that the amateur attached to each of the four-person teams would get a taste of professional golf inside the ropes. Furthermore, the lucky weekend warrior would have every opportunity to contribute to the ultimate success of their three new favourite LET pros, perhaps even by sinking the winning putt.

We’re still waiting for the latter probability but for irrefutable proof of concept, kindly refer to the penultimate round of the Aramco Team Series – Jeddah on Thursday.

Belgium’s Manon De Roey captained her team to a two-stroke buffer heading into the final round of the 54-hole, $1 million event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. Pro team-mates Carmen Alonso (Spain) and Elina Nummenpaa (Finland) combined 13 birdies and one eagle en-route to a second-round 20-under-par total.

However, it was their 61-year-old amateur team-mate Nic Davies who stole the show. The general manager of a nearby Saudi Golf Club contributed a pair of net-eagles that proved the difference in propelling the fourball to 37-under-par overall.

The comments from the Spain-born Davies after his memorable afternoon were further vindication of the concept which is all about innovating to help increase exposure of the LET and wider women’s game.

“I’ve always followed women’s golf, so as an amateur this is just phenomenal to be part of,” said Davies who nailed the second of his net eagles on Royal Green’s 18th hole with a birdie four.

“I obviously now know Manon, Carmen and Elina quite well so if we were able to see this through, I’d be absolutely over the moon for them.

“They, to me, epitomise ladies golf. I’ve got a seven-year-old daughter who is just amazed seeing these girls whack the ball so well and so far. If I connect with the ball, I can get up there, but I’ve not nearly out-driven any of my team. It’s amazing to see up close and hopefully we continue doing well tomorrow.”

Amateur Nic Davies played a key role for Team De Roey on Thursday.

With a share of $150,000 for the winning pros, De Roey, Alonso and Nummenpaa will hope to keep the momentum going on Friday as well.

“I’m really happy with my team,” said De Roey.

“They fought really hard today. We didn’t do so well in the first nine, but we came back strong and I’m very proud of them and how we played. We love playing on this course, it’s very scoreable out there. We’ll fight tomorrow as we have a great opportunity.”

Team Kyriacou – captained by Australia’s Steph Kyriacou, with Lina Boqvist (SWE), Laura Beverage (SCO) and amateur Andreas ‘Andy’ Feller, from Switzerland – shot a series low 22-under-par in the second round to move to -35 overall.

Team Steph Kyriacou.

“Up until the last hole neither of us scored on the same holes, which is what you need in this format,” said Kyriacou. “Lina came in real clutch at the end, Laura in the middle, and Andy our amateur played well. It was Andy and I on the front then Lina and Laura on the back nine.”

Like Team De Roey, Team Kyriacou also had their amateur golfer to thank, with Feller’s eagle three on 13 giving the fourball the first net-albatross at any ATS event.

Talking through the hole, 10-handicapper Feller said: “I went driver, then hit a five-wood to eight-foot. We got a good read on the putt, the team gave me good comfort, and I holed the putt.

“That was my best ever nine holes. I’m a bit of a wildcard but it worked out for me today. Let’s do the same again tomorrow.”

In the individual format, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, meanwhile, leads the individual standings by one over Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher, and two clear of English pair Bronte Law and Georgia Hall.

“I’m really happy with how I’m playing at the moment,” said Cowan, who holed-out for eagle from the fairway of Royal Greens’ par-4 7th. “It’s quite steady and I’m giving myself a lot of chances to hole putts, which I think is important out here.

Germany’s Olivia Cowan is one ahead in the ATS-Jeddah’s individual standings.

“I think the relaxed team format of this event helps bring out the best in me. We as a team get on really well and are all quite chatty out there, which I like.”

The Aramco Team Series – Jeddah is the last of four new $1million team tournaments added to the Ladies European Tour this season and follows events in London, Sotogrande and New York. It climaxes on Friday.

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With an opening 63, Mexican Maria Fassi is a joint owner of the Faldo course record and out alone at the Dubai Moonlight Classic

Kent Gray — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 04:52:51 +0000

Maria Fassi. Photo by Tristan Jones/LET

Maria Fassi’s first circuit of the Faldo produced a scorecard that will be hung up in the clubhouse at Emirates Golf Club for prosperity. Now to the job of defending her first round lead.

By Kent Gray
With 10 missed cuts in her first 11 starts on the LPGA Tour this season, you wouldn’t have been alone in giving Maria Fassi’s name little more than a cursory glance when surveying the field for potential winners of this week’s Dubai Moonlight Classic.

The 23-year-old Mexican’s relative anonymity lasted precisely 18 holes on Wednesday as she roared to the first-round lead of the €260,000 Ladies European Tour event at Emirates Golf Club.

With nine birdies and a chip-in eagle on her last hole of the night, the 16th, Fassi signed for an eight-under 63, matching the Faldo course record established by Kylie Henry in the final round of last year’s tournament. She leads by a stroke from South African Lee-Anne Pace with JA the Resort-attached Olivia Cowan alone in third place after a 65 heading into Thursday’s penultimate round.

MORE: Thursday’s Dubai Moonlight Classic Daily News is FREE here

Cowan had hinted at the Faldo’s receptiveness with a stunning round of 60 in Tuesday’s Pro-Am and 31 of the 56 starters were in red numbers after the first round, including former world No.1 Ariya Jutanugarn who carded a four-under 68 to stay in touch with the leaders.

But the night belonged to Fassi who, astonishingly, could have lead by more but for blotting her card with two bogeys. Not that anyone was grumbling. It was sensational and surprising golf from a player whose only previous LET rounds – scores of 73-74 – saw her miss the cut at last year’s Australian Ladies Classic Bonville.

Wednesday’s round is even more impressive when you learn Fassi needed knee surgery in April.

“It is, of course, always good to be under par but it was pretty flawless out there today,” she said. “It is my first time playing in the dark but it was awesome. I was talking with the girls in my group today [and saying] that it’s a pretty cool experience.

“It’s something that I wanted to experience [night golf] at least once in my lifetime. It is a lot of fun and it gives a more relaxed vibe to the tournament which helps my mindset and my game.”

Staying chill for the final 36 holes is the trick from here. It seems Fassi has a plan for that too.

“You always look back to a round like today and hope to do the same the next day and so on. It’s very important for me to just walk in tomorrow and have a clean slate and focus on the same things I was focusing on – we have a great game plan for the golf course, and it definitely paid off today, but I just need to keep doing what I have been doing and I should be in good shape after that.”

Olivia Cowan. Photo by Tristan Jones/LET

While others might have been surprised by the round, Fassi herself wasn’t. She’s been trending nicely since going under the knife with a 5th place finish at last month’s ShopRite LPGA Classic. It’s not like she is an unknown either; Fassi finished runner-up to Jennifer Kupcho at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur and placed T-12 in her professional debut – impressively at the U.S. Open – later in 2019.

“I think it was a matter of time for me to be able to put a round like todays together. I have been working very hard to see something like this happen so it’s very motivating to see a round like today and have all that hard work pay off.

“I think it is a good game plan. We are playing pretty aggressive especially on the back nine, there’s a few holes where my length really plays a big role so it’s using that and hoping that the putts keep dropping.”

For much of the opening round Pace was the aptly-named pace-setter. The South African didn’t put a, ahem, foot wrong, starting with a birdie on the 4th, her first hole, before adding six more and an eagle on the 10th to sign for a 64.

“To shoot bogey-free is always very nice, I nearly birdied the last hole as well. I played very solid and made all the fairways which makes it a lot easier into the greens,” said Pace, a 10-time LET winner. “It’s not a terribly long golf course so you can attack the pins and the greens are holding as well.”

Pace played in the same three-ball as Cowan, the 25-year-old German who is still searching for her LET breakthrough.

“We both played solid today and had a good day… it was really enjoyable,” Cowan said. “I love coming to Dubai – it feels like a second home with my sponsors JA the Resort here and I always play well here because of that. Great weather, great course, I can’t complain.”

That’s a good thing for Cowan’s bag-carrying partner.

“My boyfriend is caddying for me this week. We weren’t quite sure how it was going to be because it was the first time – it could make or break the relationship. It’s going well so far though so he can keep the job.”

The post With an opening 63, Mexican Maria Fassi is a joint owner of the Faldo course record and out alone at the Dubai Moonlight Classic appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Moonlight Classic: Back-to-back for Nuria?

Kent Gray — Thu, 02 May 2019 19:39:08 +0000

(Photo by Tristan Jones/LET)

Nuria Iturrios and Esther Henseleit top a cluttered leaderboard heading into the final round of the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic.

By Kent Gray
Nuria Iturrios has a shot at joining a rare band of back-to-back Ladies European Tour winners but knows the game of golf, not to mention a quartet of pursuers desperately chasing their maiden wins, will ensure her bid for a place in the history books is anything but a cinch.

The 23-year-old Spaniard starts the final round of the $285,000 Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic tied atop the leaderboard with German Esther Henseleit at -9 and has the advantage of being the only player in the top five to have won on tour, as recently as last week at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco. Another German, Olivia Cowan, is third a shot further back while compatriot Karolin Lampert and first-round leader Leona Maguire are at -6 and -5 respectively.

Iturrios would become the first player since India’s Aditi Ashok in 2016 to capture back-to-back titles if she can get over the line today. But given the low scoring for two-thirds of the new-look 54-hole Pro-Am thus far, the six players within five strokes of Iturrios and Henseleit will fancy their chances in Friday’s final round. Even Thai Kanyalak Preedasuttijit, Swede Caroline Hedwall and Finn Noora Komulainen at -4 have given themselves an outside shot.

“It would be awesome, of course, but it’s still 18 holes to play and you never know. It’s golf…” said Iturrios before reflecting on her second round of 68.

“So I want to enjoy it. I want to relax and prepare my mind for tomorrow. I didn’t see the scores, but I’m still feeling good, so let’s keep going.”

Iturrios has only signed for two birdies in the opening 36 holes and has played her last six rounds, including the four en-route to victory in Rabat, in a thoroughly impressive 32-under-par. She certainly seems to have all facets of her game in fine shape.

“I made two birdies from really good bunker shots on holes 10 and 13 [yesterday], where I can reach the greens in two. I love bunker shots, so that’s fine for me. I made some putts and missed some, so we’ll see for tomorrow.”

Henseleit produced the lowest round on Thursday which is even more notable given her 66 included a double bogey on the par-3 17th when she splashed out of a greenside bunker and three-putted. But with four top-10s already in her rookie campaign, the 20-year-old is clearly in a good space.

“My long game is really solid and my ball striking is really good, so my swing is feeling good. I just felt like I could attack some pins and also putted really well, so I had a lot of birdies,” Henseleit said.

“Sadly I had a double bogey on 17, which was not that good, but that happens. I’m still quite happy about my round.”

Claiming a first LET win would obviously be something else to get excited about, not that Henseleit is getting ahead of herself.

“It would mean everything. I think everyone wants to win and to do this in your first year is really good, but there is still one day to go and I’m not thinking of the win. I want to do my best and see what happens.”

Cowan carded a 70 to go with her opening 66 and would love to claim her maiden win in Dubai given her close connections to the Emirate, including a sponsorship deal with JA The Resort.

“I want to go out and play good golf and see what happens: hopefully win.

It would mean the world. It would be amazing. I’ve been close a few times and I’m just waiting for that one little step. It would be amazing, here in Dubai, with my sponsors.”

Leona Maguire is perhaps the closest player to Iturrios and Henseleit with the most to prove. After her sizzling course record 64 on Wednesday, the 24-year-old Irishwoman stuttered to a 75 in the second round – an 11 shot reserve which saw her slide to fifth overnight.

“I didn’t give myself many chances today,” said the former world amateur No.1 before getting into some of the ugly specifics. “On seven, I wanted to hit 7-wood, my caddie wanted me to hit a 9 and I hit a 9 in the water [en-route to a double bogey], which was quite annoying to finish with.

“I didn’t give myself enough chances and didn’t hole any putts, so no birdies today. I need to play a lot better tomorrow and hit my irons better to give myself some more chances.”

The post Moonlight Classic: Back-to-back for Nuria? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.