RISCH-ROTKREUZ, Switzerland - Sun Devil Women's Golf alum Alexandra Forsterling won the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open on Sunday, securing her first career title on the Ladies European Tour (LET).
Forsterling shot a 66 (-5) three consecutive days, erasing a two-stroke deficit on the final day to claim the victory at Golfpark Holzhausern in Switzerland. A bogey-free final round and clutch birdies on 8, 10, 12, and finally 18 helped her seal the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open Championship while collecting $45,000 in prize money.
"I can't quite believe it," Forsterling told LadiesEuropeanTour.com. "It feels so strange in a way. Obviously you always work for it, but then when it happens you can't quite believe it."
It has not taken Forsterling long to make an impact on the professional level, the latest in a long line of standouts to come out of the Sun Devil Women's Golf program. In just her first season on the LET, she has emerged as one of the top competitors, finding herself in contention on a weekly basis.
"We couldn't be more proud of Lexi winning on the LET," Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "She has worked extremely hard and is a terrific representative of Sun Devil Women's Golf. This is the first of many victories for her."
What makes this win even more special is the individual who served as her caddy for the event. Sporting an Adidas hat with the Sun Devil pitchfork logo, Mrs. Forsterling teamed up with her daughter for her highest golf achievement yet.
"I owe everything to her." Forsterling reflected after the round. "She's the biggest supporter I could have and I was happy to have her on the bag this week."
The victory at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open represents a potential breakthrough for Forsterling, who is in the midst of an impressive debut season on the LET. She recently recorded her first official Top-10 finish in July at the La Sella Open. Forsterling has a total of five Top-20 finishes through her first 18 LET events. This is the second time she has enjoyed success at the event, as she finished sixth in her first appearance on the LET back at the 2022 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
Thanks to her title, Forsterling gained 500 points and jumped from 45th to 14th in the Race to Costa Del Sol Standings, which is the title for top player on the LET. Fellow Sun Devil Linn Grant was the 2022 Race to Costa Del Sol winner. This also helps Forsterling in the LET Rookie of the Year race, where she is battling former teammate and fellow Sun Devil Alessandra Fanali. Forsterling is now in 2nd place in the Rookie of the Year standings, with Fanali not far behind in 6th. Three individual events remain on the LET schedule, with the tour ending in November.
FORSTERLING AT ASU
Through her first three years with the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, Alexandra Forsterling was a consistent presence in the lineup, performing admirably for a Top-10 Arizona State team. During a breakout senior campaign, she took her game to another level, becoming one of the best golfers in the nation. She did it while maintaining a 3.95 GPA and graduating with a degree in Film, epitomizing the ideal student-athlete. The unanimous First Team All-American continued the long lineage of great female golfers at Arizona State. Thanks to her efforts as a senior she was named the 2022 Most Improved Player by Golfweek. She was the first recepient of the award sponsored by Rapsodo.
The No. 5-ranked golfer in the nation (top-ranked Senior) was named the 2022 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year, one of many accolades from that season. She also competed in the most prestigious amateur event in the sport, participating at iconic Augusta National Golf Course as a part of the Augusta National Women's Amateur. The Berlin, Germany native was one of ten finalists for the ANNIKA Award, which is given annually to the top player in women's collegiate golf. Forsterling enjoyed one of the most prolific seasons in program history.
Forsterling recorded seven Top-10 finishes in 2020-21, despite the fact that the Sun Devils faced one of the nation's toughest schedules. The highlight of her season was winning the Individual Title at the 2021 PING/ASU Invitational, beating out a field with 25 of the Top-100 ranked golfers, including the nation's No. 1. Forsterling recorded Top-10 finishes at the Stanford Intercollegiate, Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, Silverado Showdown, and the Stillwater Regional. She was the senior leader on a team that finished ninth at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship. Not only has she achieved great things on the course, but she has also led by example with her performance in the classroom. She has made the ASU Dean's List in each of her eight semesters and was a Pac-12 Academic Spring Honor Roll selection all four seasons.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Find Coach Farr-Kaye (@missymkaye) and Coach Tatman (@CoachMikayla_) on Twitter as well. Congratulate Alexandra Forsterling on Instagram (@AlexForsterling).
Forsterling shot a 66 (-5) three consecutive days, erasing a two-stroke deficit on the final day to claim the victory at Golfpark Holzhausern in Switzerland. A bogey-free final round and clutch birdies on 8, 10, 12, and finally 18 helped her seal the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open Championship while collecting $45,000 in prize money.
"I can't quite believe it," Forsterling told LadiesEuropeanTour.com. "It feels so strange in a way. Obviously you always work for it, but then when it happens you can't quite believe it."
It has not taken Forsterling long to make an impact on the professional level, the latest in a long line of standouts to come out of the Sun Devil Women's Golf program. In just her first season on the LET, she has emerged as one of the top competitors, finding herself in contention on a weekly basis.
"We couldn't be more proud of Lexi winning on the LET," Head Coach Missy Farr-Kaye remarked. "She has worked extremely hard and is a terrific representative of Sun Devil Women's Golf. This is the first of many victories for her."
What makes this win even more special is the individual who served as her caddy for the event. Sporting an Adidas hat with the Sun Devil pitchfork logo, Mrs. Forsterling teamed up with her daughter for her highest golf achievement yet.
"I owe everything to her." Forsterling reflected after the round. "She's the biggest supporter I could have and I was happy to have her on the bag this week."
The victory at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open represents a potential breakthrough for Forsterling, who is in the midst of an impressive debut season on the LET. She recently recorded her first official Top-10 finish in July at the La Sella Open. Forsterling has a total of five Top-20 finishes through her first 18 LET events. This is the second time she has enjoyed success at the event, as she finished sixth in her first appearance on the LET back at the 2022 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
Thanks to her title, Forsterling gained 500 points and jumped from 45th to 14th in the Race to Costa Del Sol Standings, which is the title for top player on the LET. Fellow Sun Devil Linn Grant was the 2022 Race to Costa Del Sol winner. This also helps Forsterling in the LET Rookie of the Year race, where she is battling former teammate and fellow Sun Devil Alessandra Fanali. Forsterling is now in 2nd place in the Rookie of the Year standings, with Fanali not far behind in 6th. Three individual events remain on the LET schedule, with the tour ending in November.
FORSTERLING AT ASU
Through her first three years with the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, Alexandra Forsterling was a consistent presence in the lineup, performing admirably for a Top-10 Arizona State team. During a breakout senior campaign, she took her game to another level, becoming one of the best golfers in the nation. She did it while maintaining a 3.95 GPA and graduating with a degree in Film, epitomizing the ideal student-athlete. The unanimous First Team All-American continued the long lineage of great female golfers at Arizona State. Thanks to her efforts as a senior she was named the 2022 Most Improved Player by Golfweek. She was the first recepient of the award sponsored by Rapsodo.
The No. 5-ranked golfer in the nation (top-ranked Senior) was named the 2022 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year, one of many accolades from that season. She also competed in the most prestigious amateur event in the sport, participating at iconic Augusta National Golf Course as a part of the Augusta National Women's Amateur. The Berlin, Germany native was one of ten finalists for the ANNIKA Award, which is given annually to the top player in women's collegiate golf. Forsterling enjoyed one of the most prolific seasons in program history.
Forsterling recorded seven Top-10 finishes in 2020-21, despite the fact that the Sun Devils faced one of the nation's toughest schedules. The highlight of her season was winning the Individual Title at the 2021 PING/ASU Invitational, beating out a field with 25 of the Top-100 ranked golfers, including the nation's No. 1. Forsterling recorded Top-10 finishes at the Stanford Intercollegiate, Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, Silverado Showdown, and the Stillwater Regional. She was the senior leader on a team that finished ninth at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship. Not only has she achieved great things on the course, but she has also led by example with her performance in the classroom. She has made the ASU Dean's List in each of her eight semesters and was a Pac-12 Academic Spring Honor Roll selection all four seasons.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For the latest updates and information on the Sun Devil Women's Golf program, follow our Twitter/Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWGolf), like our Facebook page (facebook.com/sundevilwgolf/), and visit our website (thesundevils.com). Find Coach Farr-Kaye (@missymkaye) and Coach Tatman (@CoachMikayla_) on Twitter as well. Congratulate Alexandra Forsterling on Instagram (@AlexForsterling).
So cool to see this moment. @LexiForsterling has been through a lot and come out stronger!! Could not be happier for this young lady!!! #sundevil4life ???? https://t.co/A4K0TrArQr
— . (@missymkaye) September 17, 2023
A special week with mum on the bag ??#RaiseOurGame | #SwissLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/NkS5cec05R
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 18, 2023