American Beth Allen targets win on adopted 

home soil in AAM Ladies' Scottish Open

 

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE

By BETHAN CUTLER, LET Media Manager

Ladies European Tour Order of Merit leader and adopted Scot Beth Allen says that she considers this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open as her home Major.

The 34-year-old Californian, who lives in Edinburgh, feels right at home on Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire where she finished seventh last year and she is hoping to ride a wave of support as she bids for a second LET title in front of family and friends.

 

“I’m really excited. Scotland is my home base, I live here, so I class this as my home tournament,” she told reporters 

 

“I’m going to be really lucky to have a lot of people supporting me this week, including stragglers from my wedding (to former LET professional Clare Queen) on Saturday (pictured left), so that will be really fun. It doesn’t distract me, it makes me feel a lot of support and I like having a tournament here in Europe that I can call home.”

 

Allen earned her first title at the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at the Buckinghamshire 12 months ago and she has come close to chalking a second after two top five finishes from seven starts on the LET so far this year.

She continued: “It was massive for me. It was something I’ve worked towards for a long, long time. I had a lot of close calls and then when it happened at the Buckinghamshire, it was really, really special. I haven’t really let up since. I’ve played consistent golf since. I’d really like another win and when I get put in that situation again I think that it will be easier for me to deal with. I hope it happens again soon.”

Already qualified for next week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn, she says that this week’s event will provide the perfect mental preparation.

“It’s great for me, because it means a lot to me, just like a Major, so mentally it’s a good way to go into the Ricoh (Women’s British Open).”

 

The ninth year LET player hopes that the experience gained from playing several practice rounds on the links could enhance her prospects of success. “It’s nice to get to know a golf course and have a little bit of an edge on the field, because I don’t have to be here grinding this week.”

 

As well as Beth Allen, there are a host of top names in the field including 16 players who have qualified for the Olympic golf competition, who will all be vying for a prize fund of €500,000.

 

The 80 professionals will be joined by 80 amateurs over the course for the first two rounds in the unique Pro-Am event, with a host of celebrities including actor Dougray Scott, singers Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden and newsreader Naga Munchetty.

 The leading 60 (plus ties) Ladies European Tour professionals will qualify through to play the final 18 holes of the tournament, with the last putt expected to drop at 2pm on Sunday.