Alice Hewson takes plunge as a pro with her debut in LET Access’s WPGA International

Berkhamsted’s Alice Hewson will make her professional debut in the 2019 WPGA International Challenge on the LET Access Series, at Stoke by Nayland.
Berkhamsted’s Alice Hewson turned pro after winning the European Ladies Amateur Championship in July, making her debut in the LET Access Series WPGA International Challenge at Stoke by Nayland. Picture by ADRIAN MILLEDGE

LADIES European Amateur Champion Hewson will make her first appearance as a professional in the LET Access Series WPGA International Challenge at Stoke by Nayland.

The 22-year-old Berkhamsted Golf Club member ended a successful amateur career and joined the paid ranks earlier this month.

Hewson, a veteran of two Curtis Cups, said: “I received an invite to play in this tournament and, as it’s only a couple of hours from my home in Hertfordshire. It was a good opportunity to put my game to the test.

“I’ve played LPGA Tour School this year and I’m hoping to play the Ladies European Tour School as well. It’s a good event to kick start my pro career.”

Hewson became the first English woman to play a competitive round at the Augusta National when she qualified for the inaugural Augusta Invitational, in April.

She finished in the top 10 and followed up by winning the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Dorset’s Parkstone Golf Club, in July.

In deciding to turn pro and play in the WPGA International, Hewson paid tribute to her coach, Rob Watts, a PGA professional based at Reading’s Castle Royal Golf Club as well as the lady members at Berkhamsted.

Much of her coaching with Watts has been conducted remotely as Hewson spent four years at Clemson University in South Carolina.

“I’ve been with him nearly five years now,” Hewson said. “I’m moving in such a better way than I was five years ago.

“Because I’ve been in the States we’ve communicated via Facetime. I had lots of access to Trackman at Clemson, so I had my Trackman numbers in front of me for virtual lessons.

“Then, when I came home in the summer and at Christmas I’d catch up with him in person.

“He teaches in a modern way and he’s changed my game massively.

“The ladies section at Berkhamsted has also been a huge help in my career.

“They’ve been really supportive. I’ve been a member there since I was seven and the Ladies section has always taken me under their wing.

“They looked after this seven-year-old out on the golf course. They taught me about the game and have been really supportive as I made the transition to become a pro.

“I’m very, very lucky to be a member there,” added Hewson.

Follow live scoring in the WPGA International Challenge by clicking here.

, , , , , , , , ,