Sanya Ladies Open 2014

Over the next 3 days, an excited gathering of golfers from around the globe will compete and show their worth, up and down the 6484 yards of fairways and greens on a spectacular Robert Trent-Jones designed course. The 120 players will compete for the title of Sanya Ladies Open 2014 champion at Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya in China.

Defending title holder, Lee-Anne Pace, isn’t in the field this week. Pace’s recent back to back wins at the South African Women’s Open and Blue Bay LPGA would surely have made her a favourite this week.

Who is the most likely to step up and take the crown? Each player participating would have their own dreams, aspirations and beliefs that they can win. Some know how it feels to hold a title. None more so than Trish Johnson (Eng), with 23 professional wins to her name, capturing her 19th Ladies European Tour (LET) win at the Ladies Scottish Open in August. Johnson placed 8th in this event last year and the way she is striking the ball and getting her putts to drop, she will fight this one to the end.

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There is a strong representation of 33 Chinese nationals testing the water by participating in this leg of the China LPGA calendar. This event has given local players good exposure and good grounding if they are to make it on a professional tour. Yu Yang Zhang (Chi) will lead the way, demonstrating the knowledge she acquired after last year’s play off earned her a personal best, second place.

Valentine Derrey (Fra) who tied for 10th in this event last year, knows for the first time what the winners circle feels like. She’s the holder of the Turkish Ladies Open trophy which she earned in May. She comes in this week on form with a tie for 4th place at the South African Women’s Open in October. Her compatriot’s Gwladys Nocera, Sophie Giquel-Bettan and Joanna Klatten will make her work hard if she is to place the better of the French players.

Gwladys Nocera of France . Credit LET/Tristan Jones

Gwladys Nocera, 8th on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit would be comfortable with her game and sits poised for this title. She has played consistently well this year but a win eludes her. Taking 2 runner’s up badges for her efforts, one of which she competed against Charley Hull in a sudden death play-off. Most recently at the South African Women’s Open, her form placed her in 3rd, a stroke better than that of Derrey.

Nocera will be hard to beat this week.

I’m always excited to see Charley Hull in the field. Hull’s last event at the South African Women’s Open saw her finish with a tie for 10th after posting an opening round of 68, the poor weather conditions seeing off a few players looking to repeat low rounds. Hull had her first professional win in March. She’s posted a second place after a play-off at the Ladies German Open, 3rd at the Turkish Ladies Open and 4th place at the Tenerife Open. You cannot help but watch her scores sharing the beginnings of naturally gifted young player that’s negotiating her way though the tour. She will always be thereabouts on the last day.

With a contingent of Australian’s in the field, I would relish seeing the names of Rebecca Artis, Sarah Kemp, Stacey Keating, Nikki Campbell or Whitney Hillier atop the board come Sunday. On form, Nikki Campbell who is ranked 6th on the Order of Merit, challenged well last year and earned a top ten finish. She and was runner up at the Ladies European Masters in July and tied for 5th at the Tenerife Open in September. With some refreshed faces coming to the course this week after having some off-course time, the yearning for a personal best or a crown will be on their minds as the 2014 year on tour comes near to the end.

Tell me who your picks are, you can follow the field on the Ladies European Tour Scores

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For more insight and discussion follow Elizabeth Bethel @bethbethel

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