Meghan MacLaren, who won last week’s Australian Women’s Classic – Bonville, returns this week to the ‘special’ tournament where she secured her first and second LET titles.
The 27-year-old won the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Women’s NSW Open and heads to Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club buoyant from her win at Bonville Golf Resort.
Related: Meghan MacLaren continues love affair with Australia
In a weather-disrupted 54-hole event, the Englishwoman recorded a one-stroke victory over Sweden’s Maja Stark to clinch her third LET title and her third in Australia.
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“Australia is somewhere that I felt comfortable from the very first time I have been here,” she said. “I don’t know what it is specifically, if I knew that I’d maybe be able to win more tournaments somewhere else as well.
“I love it here. The people have always been incredibly welcoming. It is somewhere I like to be, and the golf courses are great and long may it continue.”
MacLaren leads the field of 106 players from 30 different countries where they complete for a prize pool of €210,000 in a 72-hole stroke play format.
And a new week presents a new challenge for the English star, who began her LET season in April after starting the year on the Epson Tour.
But MacLaren, who will tee it up alongside Australian duo Cassie Porter and Kelsey Bennett, admits last week’s win reminded her why she loves playing Down Under and she is thrilled the Tour is back here once again.
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“Tournaments like this bring in players from all over Europe and all across the world, it is great to see where the women’s game is going and hopefully where it is going to keep going,” she explained.
“I hope I can stay awake for the rest of the week – I’m exhausted! This tournament will always be special to me. Coming off the back of last week, it is nice to feel comfortable and confident and it reminded me why I love it so much out here. I’m looking forward to it.”
Sweden’s Stark – who is number 81 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and leads the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol – comes into the Women’s NSW Open with two consecutive second-place finishes.
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The 22-year-old will begin her first round at 7.30am local time with Australia’s Stephanie Bunque and Belinda Ji.
Last week Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher and English duo Hannah Burke and Alice Hewson all finished in the top 10 and they will tee it up at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club looking to better their results.
As will the top amateurs from Bonville with Justice Bosio, Sarah Hammett and Ji all putting their games to the test once again in a professional field.
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