Pavenham-based golfer, Luca Thompson has continued her fine start to a first season in the professional ranks with her first victory in 2026 at the prestigious Roehampton Ladies’ Gold Cup Challenge.
Thompson went one better than her runner-up finish as an amateur in 2025, shooting rounds of 73 and 74 in the 36-hole tournament to secure her place in Roehampton’s steep history.
The Roehampton Ladies’ Gold Challenge Cup is one of the most prestigious pro-am Ladies golf competitions in the UK, with a number of well known players achieving victory throughout history.
One such player is former Women’s British Open champion and Solheim Cup winning captain, Catriona Matthew MBE who claims the Roehampton Gold Cup helped, “propel my golf career to another level”.
Thompson, who has already won prize money on the Ladies European Tour in her inaugural season, will hope the same happens to her.
From south west London to Joburg
48 players from around the UK descended on Roehampton Golf Club to compete for what was the 100th Roehampton Ladies’ Gold Challenge Cup and competed in tough conditions throughout.
Thompson managed to play the conditions well, securing a final score of three over par, two shots clear of Sunningdale’s Chloe Ryan – who was the leading amateur – as well as fellow pros, Annabel Fuller and Lauren Horsford.
All of the chasers finished on five over par.
Luca was granted an early start, on the understanding that she had a flight to catch to the Joburg Open at the Randpark Golf Club in South Africa; a flight she just about made as she embarked on her third start in the Ladies European Tour.
Thompson narrowly missed the cut in Johannesburg.
Picking up the magnificent prize on her behalf at the official prizegiving event in Roehampton was Bedfordshire County Ladies Captain, Claire Cummings who has followed Luca’s progress through the local and national ranks.
“It was great watching her at Roehampton”, said Claire speaking to the Bedford Independent.
“Despite not having her ‘A’ game, she was relentless with her chipping and putting. With her father Zac caddying in the afternoon and Mum, Sue in the morning it was a real family affair.
“I had to stay to receive the trophy on her behalf as she and brother, Orsain rushed to catch their flight to Johannesburg for her next outing in the LET, and all of us at Bedfordshire County are following her journey in the pro ranks with a lot of pride!”
The South African leg of the Ladies European Tour continues this coming Thursday (23 April) at the SA Women’s Open at the Royal Cape Golf Club in Cape Town.
Luca has already won some prize money on tour, making the cut at her debut event at the NSW Open at Wollongong Golf Club in New South Wales, Australia.
Read: Luca Thompson “will compete for a win in the future” after impressive European Tour debut
You can follow her progress in that competition and for the remainder of the campaign which lasts all the way through to November 2026 via the Ladies European Tour website here.
