The 2019 European Ladies' Amateur Championship gets underway this Wednesday on the southern coast of England. Parkstone Golf Club sets the stage for the 32nd edition of the event, which will welcome 144 of the game's best amateur players from across the world for four days of stroke play competition.
The event will be a fitting opportunity to honour the memory of 2018 European Ladies' Amateur Champion, Celia Barquín Arozamena, who tragically lost her life in September last year, less than two months after lifting the trophy in Slovakia.
A number of big names in the world of amateur golf, representing 30 different nationalities will travel to Bournemouth, striving to have their names etched on a trophy that boasts the likes of Caroline Hedwall and Carlota Ciganda. The trophy is not the only prize up for grabs on Saturday afternoon, the winner will also receive an exemption into the AIG Women's British Open to be played at Woburn next week. Historically gaining an exemption to the championship the following season, this year marks the first time the champion will be invited to play in the Women's British Open in the same year after winning the European Ladies' Amateur Championship.
Players to Watch
After Albane Valenzuela, the 2017 runner-up and current World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) number-five, received an invite to play the Evian Championship this week, Alessia Nobilio will be the highest ranked player in the field. The Italian, who enters the week with a recent victory in the Vagliano Trophy for the Continent of Europe and a bronze medal at the European Ladies' Team Championship, finished in a tie for third at last year's championship in Slovakia. The current WAGR number-six medalled at the Youth Olympic Games last year, finished runner-up at both the Italian and Spanish International Amateur Championships earlier this season, and recently won the Italian Ladies' Stroke Play Championship.
Fresh from a gold medal performance at the European Ladies' Team Championship for a second successive year with Sweden, and also a part of the victorious Continent of Europe Team at the Vagliano Trohpy, Linn Grant will be the second-highest ranked player in the field. Grant, who will be making her second appearance in the event, also reached the semi-finals of the Women's Amateur Championship in June and enters the week in 11th position in the WAGR.
Emma Spitz and Caterina Don both also featured on the winning Continent of Europe team at Royal St. Georges and will return to England once more this week. The Austrian and Italian will be looking to improve on their tied 20th finishes in Slovakia last year.
After finishing tied with Alessia Nobilio at last year's championship, but having a lower final 36 holes, Angelica Moresco took home the bronze medal in Slovakia, and will be hoping to go two better this week. Moresco helped her team to another bronze medal in the European Ladies' Team Championship two weeks ago, and will tee it up alongside her sister, Benedetta, in Bournemouth.
The host country will be well represented this week, 23 English players are set to tee it up at Parkstone on Wednesday all looking to become just the fourth English player to lift the trophy, and the first since recent LPGA Tour winner, Bronte Law. Lily May Humphreys is the top ranked of the group and has already showed excellent form this year by winning both the Irish and Welsh Amateur Open Stroke Play Championships, as well as the Annika Invitational Europe.
Lucie Malchirand will be another player to watch during this year's event having risen 262 spots in the WAGR up to 27th since January. The French player has had an impressive season so far which has seen her win the Trophée Esmond, finish runner-up in the Portuguese International Ladies' Amateur Championship, and feature in the Continent of Europe's success in the Junior Vagliano Trophy last month.
Sofia Garcia of Paraguay is one of six players travelling from outside of Europe to tee it up this week. The Texas Tech University player has already won two collegiate events in the U.S. this year and is currently ranked 35th in the WAGR.
Venue
The championship travels to England for the first time in 22 years and for just the second time in history. Parkstone Golf Club, a mature par-72 heathland course located in Bournemouth on the south coast of England, will present the test to the players this week.
A course guide can be found on Parkstone Golf Club's website.
Format
The format of the event is 72 holes strokes play, starting on Wednesday (24 July) and finishing on Saturday (27 July). A cut will be made for the top 60 players and ties following round three on Friday. Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to the top-three finishers.
Where to Follow
Livescoring can be found from Wednesday morning onwards here, while updates can be followed on our social media channels:
Facebook: @EuropeanGolfAssociation
Instagram: @ega_golf
Twitter: @EGA_golf
More information about the event and the full list of participants can be found on the Championship Webpage.