Ford NSW Women's Open Preview

Ford NSW Women’s Open Preview

The European women have arrived and its finally time for our Ozzie swing of the LET to start. The first of four co-sanctioned LET Tournaments is the Ford NSW Open at Wollongong Golf Club.

Last year Englishwomen Mimi Rhodes had her first LET win here and then went on to win a further two times and is now playing on the LPGA. This week’s winner has potentially similar benefits. They will secure playing rights for the next two season, be well on the way to a top ten OOM finish for the season which gives the entry straight into the final stage of LPGA Q-Series and chance to earn an LPGA card.

There are 80 players from the LET, 30 from the WPGA and 22 invitees in the 132 player field. So let’s look at who is playing and the top contenders.

Of the LET players (we won’t include our five Ozzie LET members) the top ranked at no. 112 is 17 year old Anna Huang from Canada. Huang won twice last season as a sixteen year old so it is going to be fascinating to see how she performs this year. Other experienced players like Cara Gainer, Alice Hewson and Sara Kouskova probably have the best chances. All have LET wins in their resume and have the experience and patience to work their way around the seaside links at Wollongong.

Of the Ozzies our top chances are with our regular LET players Kelsey Bennett, Kirsten Rudgeley, Madison Hinson-Tolchard, Justice Bosio and Steph Bunque. Bennett missed the cut her last year and has admitted that she put too much pressure on herself but feels more relaxed about her status as home-town favourite this year. In a recent interview with the LET Bennett said ““I think last year I put a bit too much pressure on myself,” she explains. “So I’m trying to manage that better this year but I know I’ve grown a lot as a person and as a player since then. Hopefully it all works out.”

Our pick for the win this week is Justice Bosio. The Queenslander had a great season last year on the secondary LET Access series and then secured her full LET card at Q school in December. Bosio looks in great form and has the game to get the job done in Wollongong.

Other Ozzies to watch are our young guns Hannah Reeve, Amelia Harris and Ella Scaysbrook. Reeve won the first three pro tournaments she entered. Those were two round events but this is a step up in class but it will still be fascinating to see how she performs at this level in the 72 hole format. Amelia Harris is the 17 yo amateur who last week won the Reginal qualifier at Shellcove and Scaysbrook made it through to the semi final of the US Amateur Championship. Of these Reeve looks the most likely to make an impact on the tournament.

Photo by Scott Campbell

Any discussion of the NSW Women’s open is not complete without a mention of evergreen Sarah Kemp. In 2006 Kemp lost in a five hole playoff at Oatlands GC and has played the event most years since. Recent surgery to remove the surgical hardware in her leg inserted following a bizarre golf cart accident in 2024 has not seemed to slow down the veteran Kemp. She is still walking the fairways with her inimical smile and chirpy banter, with coach John Serhan often on the bag. A Kemp win would be celebrated by everyone in Australian golf.