Czechia’s Sara Kouskova capped off an impressive first year as a professional, which included three wins, by securing the top spot in the LET Access Series Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year standings.
The 23-year-old returned to Europe after graduating from the University of Texas in May, just in time to make her first professional appearance at the 2022 Czech Ladies Challenge being held at her home course in early June.
Kouskova launched her professional career with second place at Prague City Golf Club and followed that with 13th and 22nd placed finishes on the Ladies European Tour in Czechia and Germany, respectively.
“This season has been very long, but extremely rewarding, and I’m glad I chose to play on LETAS this season to earn my LET card for next year,” said Kouskova said, who clinched her first pro win at the 2021 Czech Ladies Challenge while still an amateur.
She continued: “Back in June, I knew that I could secure my card through LETAS, but actually winning the Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year was something I couldn’t even imagine back then and it’s just a cherry on top.”
The Czech rookie focused on the LETAS schedule in the second half of the season, clinching her first professional win at the Santander Golf Tour Malaga before getting back-to-back victories at the Elite Hotels Open in Sweden and the ASGI Lavaux Ladies Open in Switzerland.
“All three wins were a bit different, but all of them are very special to me. I have so many great takeaways from not only these events, but also those where I fought until the very last shot to be in contention.”
Kouskova also added three top-five and one further top-10 finish in her ten starts to claim both 2022 titles on the development tour.
“I think that more than just the results, it was important to gain all the experience and information in my first pro season. I want to utilise everything I’ve learned during the upcoming seasons when I’ll play with the best players in Europe and in the world.”
The top six in the Access Series Order of Merit have earned Ladies European Tour cards for next season. Joining Kouskova on the European women’s top tier tour will be Chiara Noja, Momoka Kobori, Patricia Isabel Schmidt, Lauren Holmey and Anna Magnusson.
England’s Amy Taylor missed out on winning a full Ladies European Tour card by just one spot, finishing in seventh place, less than 10 points behind Magnusson. The 21-year-old from Bawburgh Golf Club won last week’s Calatayud Ladies Open, and had five other top-10 finishes, but it wasn’t quite enough to earn her card.
Gemma Clews took ninth place during a season which saw the Delamere player enjoy an impressive 11 top-10 finishes from 17 starts.