HEWSON HUNTS HISTORIC HAT-TRICK

For the second time in three weeks, Michaela Vavrova will hold a one-shot final round lead at an LET Access Series (LETAS) event as she bids to win her first professional title on home soil at TALE Ski Golf & Hotel Resort.

History is on the line for Alice Hewson at this week’s VP Bank Swiss Ladies as the Englishwoman goes in pursuit of an unprecedented three-peat of victories in the competition.

The 28-year-old earn her second Ladies European Tour (LET) win at this event in 2024 defeating India’s Tvesa Malik in a playoff before defending her title in style with a dominant five-shot victory last time out.

“It feels great to be back,” Hewson said ahead of the tournament’s seventh edition in a row at Golfpark Holzhäusern. “It always feels great to be back. Everyone here, the members, the staff, they’re all so welcoming and it’s fantastic. The course is in great condition too considering the [hot] weather that they’ve had the last few weeks. It’s great to be back.”

“The two wins were definitely very different. The first year I won, Tvesa Malik was actually playing behind me, so I was trying to set the score before I had to watch her come in as she matched my birdie on the last. Then I had to defeat her in a playoff. That was interesting.”

“Then last year, I actually didn’t know what the scoreline was. I remember saying to my caddie, ‘don’t tell me, only tell me if we need to birdie 18.’ We got to the 18th, I hit a lovely drive and he turned around said, ‘we don’t need birdie to win, but we’re not winning this with a par!’ I then nearly slam-dunked it again [after doing the same on the 17th in 2024] which would have been impressive. I rolled in the birdie putt to top it off so obviously very good memories.”

Swedish legend Annika Sörenstam was the last player to three-peat on the LET when she won the HP Open (later renamed the Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika) in 2004, 2005 and 2006 on home soil.

On replicating the feat, Hewson said: “It would be unbelievable. I’ve met Annika several times, she’s a fantastic human being and has done so much for the sport so to be said in the same sentence as her would be pretty cool.

Photo: Alice Hewson (Photo by: Oliver Brady / LET)