Herma Kleinlugtenbeld - Winner of the first Teia Ladies Open in 2004

Herma Kleinlugtenbeld, Netherlands

Severiano Ballesteros was a long name that golf tournament organisers sometimes found difficult to fit onto scoreboards. Herma Kleinlugtenbeld presents a similar conundrum for Pitch and Putt event organisers. But just like the late lamented Seve, Herma is regularly to be found at the business end of international opens.

As the 2014 Teia Open beckons, it's timely to recall that Teia 2004 is where it all began for Herma. "I remember Teia very well," recalls Herma. "It was for me the first international Open ever I and was suffering from a lot of nerves, but during the tournament it was slowly getting better."

It was an extremely close finish to that inaugural Catalan Ladies Open. Herma reflects, "There was a lot of competition, there were a lot of good lady players." The Catalan stalwart Pilar Montero set the target with 122 for 36 holes. Herma and her Italian rival Simona Sala both went one better with 121, Herma crediting the holing of a very long putt on the 12th green to inspire her thrilling finish. Herma won the play-off at the first sudden death hole. Here's how she describes the drama. "That brought us back to the first hole, Simone first "a good shot" then I, nerves like..... ;-). I hit the ball almost on the green, Simone first, hit it too far. I took my putter and left it just a little bit to the right of the hole. Simone putted again and she missed. I made the par putt for the win. It was like a dream. it was amazing..."

Teia was Herma Kleinlugtenbeld's first international open success. Further wins followed - Andorra in 2011 and Galicia in 2012. Both of these wins were by significant margins. The latter brace of wins followed two on home soil in the Dutch Opens of 2009 and 2010. Herma was in devastating form on the Saturday of the 2010 Dutch Open at Bussloo. An eight under par 36 hole total of 100 that day gave Herma the platform for an eventual two shot win. Herma participated in four ladies international challenge matches - at Tolcinasco (2000), McDonagh (2003), Overbetuwe (where she scored a fine 105 in 2005) and Teyco l'Ampolla (2009).

And Herma (the no. 1 ranked lady player in Holland) will arrive at Teia as the defending Catalan Open champion. Last year at Teyco l'Ampolla she won her sixth ladies international Open (and first in Catalonia since 2004) with a 54 hole total of 174. That was three clear of Marilyn Holmes (Catalonia) and four ahead of the evergreen Pilar Montero. "In 2013 I was lucky to win the Catalan open at L'Ampolla. Again it was very difficult to deal whit the very strong wind during the tournament. Another miracle was born!" is Herma's modest assessment.

In addition to her half a dozen international open wins, Herma Kleinlugtenbeld has been second twice and third once. She is the second most successful lady ever in international opens, behind Ireland's Liz Quinn Bloem. Herma is a loyal supporter of all the international events. "I love to play in international tournaments, It's a part of my life, and love the game and made a lot of friends over the years, that makes it special, now totally with Gerard and a lot of Dutch friends."

Herma holds the three round ladies scoring record in the Netherlands, the 149 she shot at Oostvold in 2006. She is the reigning Dutch National Ladies Strokeplay champion and the reigning Dutch National Ladies Matchplay champion.

Undoubtedly, Herma Kleinlugtenbeld will again start as one of the favourites for the 2014 Catalan Open in Teia. She is very optimistic and characteristically generous as she looks ahead, "I have again a lot of anticipation to get back to Teia after 10 years and we will see what happens. I wish every player in the Catalan Open lots of success".