The 35th edition of the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship takes place this week in Paris.
First played in 1986, the championship regularly attracts the top amateur players from Europe and further afield.
144 players representing 35 different countries will compete in the four-round stroke play event this year, which features a 54-hole cut for the top-60 and ties.
Le Grand Parcours at Golf de Saint Germain will provide the test for the players this week. The course is frequently ranked amongst the top-10 courses in France, and the top-20 on the continent. The parkland design has hosted the Open de France nine times, including when Seve Ballesteros won in 1985, and also hosted the first Espirito Santo Trophy (Women's World Amateur Team Championship) in 1964.
Several major champions and Solheim Cup players have medaled in the European Ladies' Amateur Championship in the past including:
- 1st Celine Boutier (FRA) 2012
- 1st Sophia Popov (GER) 2010
- 1st Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 2009 & 2007
- 1st Carlota Ciganda (SPA) 2008 & 2004
- 3rd Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 2005
- 3rd Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 2000
Two of the world’s top-10 amateurs will tee it up in France this week. Austria's Emma Spitz (7th), and Denmark's Amalie Leth-Nissen (9th) are the favourites according to ranking, and will look to claim the European title come Saturday evening. Spitz would become the first Austrian player to lift the title should she find herself at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the week.
In total, 21 of the world's top-100 amateurs will tee it up at Saint-Germain. This list includes Hannah Darling, who has shown good form heading into the event. The Scottish player, ranked 7th in the European Women's Amateur Golf Ranking, finished top of the stroke play qualifying at the European Ladies' Team Championship in Wales two weeks ago. Darling missed the last two editions of the event due to Covid, but led at the halfway stage in 2019 at just 14 years of age.
Caley McGinty (ENG), 5th in the European Women's Amateur Golf Ranking, and fresh from an England victory at the European Ladies' Team Championship, could challenge for another gold medal in France.
2021 champion, Ingrid Lindblad, won't be defending her title. The World Amateur number-2 will compete in the Evian Championship. Sweden will still have a an excellent chance of securing another gold medal in the event however, with nine strong players competing including former Junior Vagliano Trophy winners, Meja Örtengren and Nora Sundberg. The former was in contention for the title last year but ultimately finished 5th and will be eyeing a spot on the podium at Saint-Germain.
The hosts will be well represented with 18 players in the field. Amongst them is Chloé Salort, who claimed the silver medal in 2020. All six players on the winning French team at the European Girls' Team Championship in Iceland will also look to add another medal to their collection on home soil.
Podium of the 2020 European Ladies' Amateur Championship
Germany's Paula Schulz-Hanssen is the only former champion competing. The winner of the 2020 edition will have a chance to become just the 5th player to win the event twice. Germany will also be represented by 2021 European Young Masters champion, Helen Briem
Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio (ESP) and Francesca Fiorellini (ITA) are two more players to look out for this week. Former Junior Vagliano Trophy foursomes partners, the pair have won two of the biggest amateur titles in Europe so far this year. Fernandez triumphed on home soil in the Copa. S.M. La Reina, while Fiorellini claimed the Portuguese International title earlier this year.
Livescoring and updates can be followed throughout the week on the championship webpage below:
2022 european ladies' amateur championship