ASHOK TAKES EARLY COMMAND OF 2023 RACE TO COSTA DEL SOL

The 2023 Ladies European Tour (LET) season is now underway with three events in the history books.

This means the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol – the season-long competition to crown the LET’s number one player – is also in full swing, with several storylines already starting to unfold after the first month of action.

Following the first three tournaments, India’s Aditi Ashok has taken a commanding early lead in the standings. The 24-year-old made a magnificent start to 2023 after winning the Magical Kenya Ladies Open on an invite to secure her full LET card and collect 500.00 points.

She then followed this up with stellar performances at the Lalla Meryem Cup and Aramco Saudi Ladies International, finishing third in Morocco and runner-up in Saudi Arabia to take her tally to 1,210.00.

Sitting in second is Maja Stark. After finishing runner-up in the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol, the Swede has continued where she left off last season by winning the Lalla Meryem Cup to collect 500.00 points.

Things then get more bunched as we look at the remainder of the top 10.

In third is Manon De Roey on 428.13 points. The Belgian has made a strong start to the season with three consecutive top-10 finishes. This includes a T3 finish at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International after shooting 63 on the final day.

Just behind her is England’s Alice Hewson on 387.00 points. With one tournament under her belt – a second place finish at the Lalla Meryem Cup – last year’s Race to Costa del Sol winner Linn Grant sits fifth on 320.00 points.

We then move on to a group of rookies in the standings. Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela leads the way on 296.25 points from two events. She’s followed by fellow graduates April Angurasaranee from Thailand in seventh (275.00), and Australia’s Gabi Ruffels in eighth (180.00).

Rounding out the top 10 are Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen, also eighth on 180.00 points, and Czechia’s Jana Melichova, who is tenth on 167.25 points from three events. The full standings can be found here.

While there is plenty still to play for, a quick reminder that following the conclusion of the 2023 season, the top 10 in the Race to Costa del Sol have the opportunity to go to the final stage of LPGA Q-Series.

The Race to Costa del Sol continues next week with the Joburg Ladies Open at Modderfontein Golf Club. Join the conversation at @LETgolf using the hashtag #RaceToCostaDelSol.