Charlotte Heath Takes Four-Shot Lead Into La Sella Open Finale

• Charlotte Heath leads the La Sella Open by four shots at 11-under.
• Heavy rain, thunder and lightning forced officials to reduce the tournament to 54 holes.
• The final group will tee off at 12.45pm local time on Sunday.

England’s Charlotte Heath will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the La Sella Open after severe weather shortened the Ladies European Tour event to 54 holes.

Heath remained on 11-under without hitting a shot on Saturday, when the delayed second round was finally completed at La Sella Golf. Australia’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Poland’s Dorota Zalewska are tied for second place at 7-under, with England’s Alice Hewson and Singapore’s Shannon Tan another stroke behind.

The 24-year-old Heath established her advantage with a 7-under 65 on Friday. She was 9-under after her first 12 holes, but bogeys at the 15th and 16th left her at 11-under.

Storms Shorten the Tournament

Play resumed at 8.30am local time on Saturday, but heavy rain and the threat of thunder and lightning soon forced another suspension. Officials subsequently reduced the event from 72 to 54 holes, with further disruption expected.

The second round restarted at 3pm under improved conditions. Weather has affected each day of the tournament, including a two-and-a-half-hour suspension during Thursday’s storm-hit opening round.

Zalewska completed the remaining nine holes of her second round in 4-under, signing for a 68. The 26-year-old holed a long eagle putt at the 2nd after the restart and converted another lengthy putt for birdie at the 6th.

“I teed off at 8.30am this morning in that rain and I couldn’t see the ball, basically,” Zalewska said. “The ball travelled 40 metres shorter. I smashed that drive and I thought, ‘What is happening?’”

Zalewska described the weather-delayed effort, which began on Friday afternoon and finished late on Saturday, as the longest round of her career. She will seek her first LET title alongside Heath and Hinson-Tolchard in the final group.

Tan also finished strongly, birdieing the 16th and 17th to complete a second successive 69. She shares fourth place with Hewson at 6-under.

Carmen Alonso Ends 22-Year LET Career

Spain’s Carmen Alonso played the final competitive round of her LET career. With her 11-year-old nephew Lucas carrying her bag, Alonso birdied the par-5 18th and was welcomed by family, friends and fellow players beside the green.

“I finished with a birdie and all my family and friends are here, so I have to say thank you to everyone who came to see the end of my career,” Alonso said.

The cut fell at 2-over, while organisers confirmed that every player missing it would receive €1,400. Sunday’s final round begins at 9am, with Heath, Hinson-Tolchard and Zalewska teeing off at 12.45pm.

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