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Oats Vic Open Features International Field of Top Women Golfers

By Elizabeth Bethel

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 18: Aditi Ashok of India waves to the gallery on the 12th hole during the second round of the Women's Individual Stroke Play golf on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Olympic Golf Course on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 18: Aditi Ashok of India waves to the gallery on the 12th hole during the second round of the Women's Individual Stroke Play golf on Day 13 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Olympic Golf Course on August 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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Oats Vic Open opens 2 week run through Australia for women’s golf.

The Oats Vic Open has a special kind of energy and vitality. This annual golfest, co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, the ALPG, and the PGA Tour of Australasia, draws an international field.

The Open is unique among golf tourneys. Women’s and men’s competitions are conducted simultaneously on the same track, the 13th Beach Golf Links, Victoria, Australia.

The 36-hole, links-style track provides a worthy challenge for the co-ed field. It’s known for long, tough rough and firm, fast greens. Whether they’re navigating the dunes of the Beach Course or the greenside bunkering of the Creeks Course, the players will be battling against Mother Nature in the best tradition of links golf as it was originally played.

The indomitable Dame Laura Davies and reigning LET Order of Merit winner Beth Allen headline the women’s competition field.

Related Story: Dame Laura Davies Profile

There’s a new confidence driving Allen’s game. She notched back-to-back wins at the 2016 Lacoste Ladies Open de France and Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi and recorded more birdies than any other player on the LET last year. I’m looking for the Californian who makes her home in Scotland to maintain her pace and challenge the top of the leaderboard this week. She’ll be right at home on this Australian links course.

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LET 2016 Rookie of the Year Aditi Ashok, also teeing it up this week, joins the growing mob of teen stars in women’s golf. The 18-year old took to the pro circuit with a decisive bang. She recorded rookie year back-to-back wins at the 2016 Hero Women’s Indian Open and the Qatar Ladies Open.

Ashok went on to represent India in the 2016 Rio Olympics women’s golf competition and is now playing her rookie year on the LPGA. She’ll play alongside Nelly Korda, another notable LPGA rookie.

Ashok and Korda will both bear watching this season. They’ll not be loitering below the cut line.

Korda, who finished 5th in her first LPGA start in January at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, told tournament organizers “Last week was definitely an amazing week and I’m eager to get into tournament mode again.”

A number of Solheim Cup Team Europe hopefuls are in the field. Sandra Gal, Mel Reid, and Caroline Headwall. These past Team Europe members are certain to bring championship-level play to the Oats Vic Open. Look for them on the front page of the Oats Vic Open leaderboard come Sunday at the 13th Beach Golf Links.

Next: 20 Golf Rules That Aren't In The Book

Follow the Oats Vic Open early rounds on the LET electronic leaderboard and the weekend round on Facebook LIVE at www.vicopengolf.com.  I’ll provide updates as well via Twitter @bethbethel and @ProGolfNow.

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