10 August 2022: The Women’s Golf Association of India, which has been running the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour for more than a decade, were given the honour of supporting and helping to stage the first-ever LET Pre-qualifiers in Asia ahead of the Tour’s final Qualifier for the 2023 season.
It will be a big boost for Asian women golfers as they will not need to travel to Europe to seek an opportunity to play the LET final qualifiers. The final qualifiers will have cards available for the main Tour as also opportunities to the LET Access for those who don’t make it to the main Tour.
With the return of the LET’s Qualifying School in December 2021, the next generation of champions were able to begin their journey into professional golf and the tournament continues to provide a pathway this year for players to secure playing rights for the 2023 season.
The Classic Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, on the outskirts of New Delhi will host the Pre-Qualifier – Asia from October 11-14. The top players will advance to the Final Qualifier later in the year.
Those hoping to qualify will tee it up on the Ridge and Valley course, which was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and sits at the foothills of the picturesque Aravallis in the National Capital Region.
La Manga Club will once again host the LET’s Qualifying School in December with the North and South Courses being used for the four-round Pre-Qualifier – Europe from 10-13 December and the five-round Final Qualifier on 17-21 December 2022 with the top 20 players and ties eligible for LET Membership in Category 11 for the 2023 season.
The La Manga Club is an exclusive holiday, sports and leisure resort, which boasts a five-star hotel, three golf courses, 28 tennis courts, 8 FIFA-sized football pitches, a European Cricket Performance Centre with 29 grass wickets and several restaurants and bars amongst its outstanding facilities has played host to six editions.
Alexandra Armas, LET Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted that the Classic Golf and Country Club are hosting a Pre-Qualifier for the LET’s Qualifying School. The tournament in Asia is part of the LET’s strategy to give players from all parts of the world the opportunity to compete to become part of the LET and pursue their dreams with a career in professional golf. We are also grateful to be back at the wonderful La Manga Club again after such a successful tournament at the end of the 2021 season.”
Rajat Sethi at Classic Golf and Country Club said: “It is an honour to host the Pre-Qualifier – Asia for the LET’s Qualifying School this year. We are excited to welcome the next generation of golfers to our 27-hole, signature golf course in Gurugram and assist players from all over the world to find their pathway in starting a career in professional golf.”
Last year, American Gabriella Then claimed top spot after a blistering final round of 67 (-6) to win by four shots with Wales’ Amy Boulden winning in January 2020 and ended up clinching her maiden LET victory at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open later that year.
While Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Masson, Caroline Hedwall and Jodi Ewart Shadoff took the honours in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively, before going on to represent Europe multiple times in the Solheim Cup, demonstrating the fairness of the testing golf courses.
