Patricia Schmidt wins maiden LET Event
LET rookie takes top spot in Belgium
Mizuno’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt (27) has won her first Ladies European Tour event with a closing of 66 (-6) to win the 2023 Belgian Ladies Open by two shots at Naxhelet Golf Club. The German talent is an LET rookie – having only secured her card through the LET Access Tour last season.
Schmidt won playing Mizuno ST-G 220 driver (9 degree), Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi (2,3,4), Mizuno Pro 223 (5-PW) and T22 wedges (50/54/58).
With her first win, Schmidt jumps from 84th to eighth in the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol.
I don’t really have any words to say right now! I was just so nervous on the last tee. I really felt like I was shaking when I had to line my putt.
I wasn’t aware of my position at all. I saw the leaderboard out there once, but I didn’t see it clearly enough. I just saw the colours of a flag and thought it looked like a Spanish flag. The eagle on 14 was nice. I hit a really good drive and then only had an eight-iron in.
My dad was caddying today. He was joining me for the first time ever since I started playing golf, because I was flying to Brussels and my dad had a week off, so he picked me up and took my bag with me. I guess it all kind of worked out!
This win will give me a lot of trust and confidence. I came from LETAS last year and played quite well. Then I struggled at the beginning of this year and put myself under a lot of pressure, so I knew okay, I need to show that I belong here instead of just playing. This will help a lot to give me that confidence.
In the US Jiwon Jeon, another #MizNextGen emerging talent was also claiming her first Epson Tour win – on her 26th birthday. Jiwon won by two shots at the Inova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship.
This is the best birthday present ever and my game feels really good. It just gave me a lot of confidence and a lot of hype. Winning on your birthday weekend is just crazy, but I am very proud of myself for what I did this week, and I will keep trying to that going forward.
Jiwon Jeon played Mizuno JPX923 Tour irons, T22 wedges (50/54/58) and ST-X 230 driver.