It must be said before we get into this article for this week's LET event down under in Australia, I hope all of those in Queensland and New South Wales areas are all safe after the horrendous 'Cyclone Alfred' which battered through the East Coast of Australia. With myself having family over on Gold Coast in Queensland, it was definitely an upsetting time and to even have tournament golf this week is a remarkable feat given how much rainfall came down. Kudos to the greenkeeping staff at Coffs Harbour Golf Club!
Last week's first-of-three events in Oz for Australian WPGA Championship at Sanctuary Cove on Gold Coast was cancelled after Cyclone Alfred. This meant that many players and caddys had to make a 6/7 hour drive down the coast to the likes of Sydney to get some golfing reps in and keep the flow going during the Cyclone.
Tournament
This week the players will play at Coffs Harbour Golf Club in New South Wales which visually looks a lovely course as you can imagine in Australia. This 6,129 yard Par-70 Carnegie Clark designed gem is often regarded as one of the best premium golf courses on the Mid-North East Coast with the 27 hole championship course surrounded by the idyllic views of The Coffs Coast (NSW.) The Tournament will be Friday - Sunday, played as 54 holes. The course, in places, is still waterlogged after the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred. The Tifdwarf BermudaGrass smallish greens look like they are holding up well although. There's no doubt that they will be soft and receptive with greens in regulation being a key metric with that in mind!
LPGA Tour winner Grace Kim rocks up back home in Australia this week as do Pauline Roussin and Manon De Roey. Sarah Kemp returns to competitive golf after surgery in October last year. It could be a good chance for Australia's own Kirsten Rudgeley, Justice Bosio and the talented Kiwi, Amelia Garvey.
Weather
With much of the focus being on the wind and rain over the past week or so, the weather towards the end of this week looks good with huge sunny intervals. The wind will get up the most on Championship Sunday which could make for an exciting finish! Fingers crossed for no stoppages in play this week!
NO COURSE HISTORY AVAILABLE, FIRST TIME EVENT!
Current Top 20 in the field for Greens in Regulation (after two events)
1) Shannon Tan
3) Annabell Fuller and Luna Sobron Galmes
6) Cara Gainer
7) Emma Spitz and Alice Hewson
10) Sara Kouskova and Trichat Cheenglab
12) Gabriella Cowley and Alessandra Fanali
15) Lauren Walsh and Perrine Delacour
18) Brianna Navarossa and Mimi Rhodes
20) Celine Herbin
21) Marta Martin
24) Aunchisa Utama, Nastasia Nadaud, Diksha Dagar and Patricia Isabel Schmidt
Current Live Odds Board
Pauline Roussin Bouchard 11/1
Manon De Roey 14/1
Grace Kim 14/1
Shannon Tan 16/1
Alice Hewson 20/1
Emma Spitz 28/1
Pia Babnik 28/1
Nastasia Nadaud 28/1
Perrine Delacour 33/1
Polly Mack 33/1
Ana Pelaez Trivino 33/1
Sarah Kemp 33/1
Lauren Walsh 33/1
Luna Sobron Galmes 35/1
Kirsten Rudgeley 40/1
Karis Davidson 40/1
Daniela Darquea 40/1
Cara Gainer 45/1
Trichat Cheenglab 45/1
Highest Ranked Players in the field
Grace Kim - 85th
Shannon Tan - 103rd
Manon De Roey - 121st
Pauline Roussin Bouchard - 122nd
Perrine Delacour - 133rd
Cara Gainer - 141st
Kirsten Rudgeley - 148th
Alice Hewson - 166th
Emma Spitz - 168th
Diksha Dagar - 174th
Annabell Fuller - 179th
Nuria Iturrioz - 183rd
Lauren Walsh - 185th
Nastasia Nadaud - 194th
Pia Babnik - 200th
Current Form of Favourites (Last Eight Events All Comps)
Pauline Roussin: 18/MC/20/14/3/7/2/2
Manon De Roey: MC/MC/2/18/2/12/15/3
Grace Kim: 60/65/4/25/11/34/46/57
Shannon Tan: 34/39/3/16/59/2/41/10
Alice Hewson: 14/16/11/9/11/22/34/MC
Emma Spitz: 8/22/34/22/9/8/29/37
Pia Babnik: MC/61/7/3/58/21/41/24
Nastasia Nadaud: 58/6/26/9/4/51/43/18
Perrine Delacour: 47/MC/MC/MC/20/6/3/MC
Polly Mack: 63/MC/MC/60/44/14/MC/5
Ana Pelaez Trivino: 58/16/11/MC/36/21/20/15
Sarah Kemp: MC/39/7/MC/MC (Injured since Oct)
Lauren Walsh: MC/4/16/22/12/18/MC/MC
Kirsten Rudgeley: MC/1/37/MC/10/46/37/2
Trichat Cheenglab: 57/39/14/22/9/15/8/45
Daniela Darquea: 24/MC/MC/MC/43/MC/22
Cara Gainer: 53/1/29/22/MC/37/32/MC
Picks
Emma Spitz 28/1 (5pl ew, Ladbrokes)
Current Form (Last 8 Events)
8th Saudi International Ladies
22nd Lalla Meryem Cup
34th Andalucia Costa Del Sol Spanish Open
22nd Aramco Series - Riyadh
9th Hero Indian Women's Open
8th Wistron Ladies Open Taiwan
29th Aramco Series - Shenzhen
37th Lacoste Ladies Open De France
Key Stats
6th Driving Accuracy (2025)
7th Greens in Regulation (2025)
2nd for Most Birdies (2025)
27/18/11/9 in last 4 for Putting Average
Super ball striker, accurate and has a chance of a maiden win if the putter cooperates for Spitzy
While Roussin Bouchard and De Roey are both respected at the top of market and Grace Kim not having an ideal start to the LPGA season, it was a battle between two of the most consistent performers on the LET in the past year. It came down to Alice Hewson and Emma Spitz, but it's Spitzy for me that provides value. She's been fantastic so far this season having finished a respectable 22nd at Lalla Meryem Cup in the opening week. Then in one of the best fields, they will play all year, she impressively finished T8th at Saudi International. That proves its only a matter of time before the brilliant Austrian wins on LET for the first time. With her game ticking most of the boxes and a good caddy in Squash (Ben Cain,) I have faith that 28's could look big towards Sunday. Has bold claims! Wouldn't back less than 18/1
Cara Gainer 45/1 (5pl ew, Ladbrokes)
Current Form (Last 8 Events)
53rd Saudi International Ladies
1st Lalla Meryem Cup
29th Open de Espana
22nd Aramco Series - Riyadh
MC Wistron Ladies Open Taiwan
37th Aramco Series - Shenzhen
32nd La Sella Open
MC KPMG Women's Irish Open
Key Stats
6th Greens in Regulation (2025)
13th Driving Accuracy (2025)
10th Most Birdies (2025)
48/12/1 in last 3 for Scrambling
4th New South Wales Open in 2024
Hoping her maiden title in Rabat at season opening Lalla Meryem Cup defeating Diksha Dagar in a Playoff will give her the confidence to win more going forward. Consistent player that hits lots of greens and can grind it out when it gets tough.
Really took Kirsten Rudgeley into consideration here having won back in Australia a few starts ago. That should bode well for her but I've opted for 2025 Lalla Meryem Cup winner Cara Gainer. I think this is a decent price this week at 45/1, considering just how well she played in Morocco to beat Diksha in the playoff. The next week in Saudi she followed up the win with a 53rd, which can scrape past since would have been an emotionally draining flight straight after the win. She finished fourth at NSW Open last year which adds another tick in the box to go with being top ten for greens in regulation. She was 12th for scrambling at Lalla Meryem too which may come in handy down the stretch on a Sunday. A confident player that should be on a major high. Wouldn't take less than 28/1
Amelia Garvey 66/1 (6pl ew, Unibet)
Current Form (Last 8 Events)
13th Epson Tour Championship
23rd Murphy El Dorado
MC Four Winds Invitational
39th Wildhorse Classic
17th Twin Bridges Championship
MC Hartford Healthcare Champs
14th Dream First Bank Charity
52nd Island Resort Championship
Epson Stats
11th Driving Distance (2024)
11th Round 4 Scoring Average (2024)
30th Putts Per Greens in Regulation (2024)
47th in Epson Tour Race for LPGA Card (2024)
Amelia's cousin is world class coach Jamie Tipper who has worked for many top talents on LPGA including Major Champions Patty Tavatanakit and Lexi Thompson. Jamie will be on Amelia's bag this week. He's also caddied at six Major Championships, including four U.S. Opens and two AIG Women's Opens.
In this mid range I'm going to take the chance on the highly rated Kiwi in the talented Amelia Garvey. I was keen on her in Morocco but sadly had to withdraw from Lalla Meryem Cup after a bad outbreak of food poisoning derailed her start to the year. The Kiwi star has been preparing nicely with cousin Jamie (Tipper) ahead of her first official event as a LET member. She had a fairly decent stint on Epson Tour with the highlight being second at Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship last year. Amelia was a standout at the University of South California and gained All-American honours while representing New Zealand at the Amateur level. I think if she can improve on driving acuracy, which looks like her main weakness, she has a chance to go well this week in a country that she has played at numerous occasions! One for the future to watch! Wouldn't take less than 40/1
Sára Kousková 80/1 (5pl ew, Bet365)
Current Form (Last 8 Events)
39th Saudi International Ladies
24th Lalla Meryem Cup
63rd Open de Espana
36th Aramco Series - Riyadh
13th Hero Indian Women's Open
57th Wistron Ladies Open Taiwan
10th Aramco Series - Shenzhen
32nd Lacoste Ladies Open de France
3rd La Sella Open (Career best finish)
Key Stats
10th Greens in Regulation (2025)
15th Scrambling (2025)
20th Most Birdies (2025)
23rd & 10th in last 2 for Driving Accuracy.
Ultra consistent Czech star thats came on leaps and bounds since coming onto the tour in 2023 after winning twice on LET Access Series in 2022. Good iron player and is always going to be up there if the putting is above average.
Next at 80/1, I feel is some value is Former Chasing Pars Golf Podcast (my podcast) guest Sára Kousková who has only missed one cut since June of last year. That was at a very tough Dundonald Links for ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open. Sára has been so consistent for a long time now and I feel that she will get her chance very soon to win a maiden LET title. She came close at La Sella last year, finishing an LET career best third. The sweet and friendly Prague native, who has her partner Jakub as her caddy and coach, finished 19th in last year's LET Order of Merit and it wouldn't surprise me if she builds on that this time around with her ultra consistent golf game! Good player. Wouldn't take less than 60/1.
Dorthea Forbrigd 150/1 (5pl ew, Bet365)
Current Form (Last 8 Events)
MC Saudi International Ladies
47th Lalla Meryem Cup
11th Andalucia Costa Del Sol Spanish
18th Hero Indian Women's Open
28th Lacoste Ladies Open de France
41st La Sella Open
51st KPMG Women's Irish Open
MC ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open
Key Stats
4th Scrambling (2025)
6th Putting Average per hole (2025)
47th Greens in Regulation (2025)
29/11/2/4/1 in 5 of last 6 for Driving Accuracy.
Accuracy is massively improving, a good scrambler and a semi decent putter. Dorthea is a 2x Norweigan National Champion and has had many accolades at national team level with Norway, very capable on her day.
In the 100/1-plus range, the supremely talented Kajsa Arwefjäll was considered to build on her T8th last time in on her full LET debut in Morocco. I wouldn't put anyone off of her for sure but I've opted for fellow Scandinavian player and another former podcast guest in two-time Norweigan National Champion Dorthea Forbrigd. She should have the minerals for this sort of course layout with her accuracy and scrambling game. She should be useful, especially with some winds forecasted on Sunday. Funnily enough, Dorthea is currently rooming with Kajsa Arwefjäll (mentioned above) and Ellie Südow, so a very cool trio that have enjoyed the sights of Australia so far. I spoke with Forbrigd earlier and she mentioned that her game is getting there to where she wants it to be. With it being 54 holes, maybe a 150/1 shot could mount a challenge come Sunday. Let's hope she gives a run! Wouldn't take less than 90/1
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Enjoy the Golf, cheers!
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