Billie-Jo Smith

Last updated

Billie-Jo Smith
Personal information
Born1999 (age 2526)
Mansfield, England
Sporting nationalityFlag of England.svg  England
Career
College University of Derby
Turned professional2022
Current tour(s) Ladies European Tour (joined 2022)
Former tour(s) LET Access Series
Professional wins1
Achievements and awards
LET Access Series
Players Player of the Year
2024

Billie-Jo Smith (born 1999) is an English professional golfer and Ladies European Tour player. She was LET Access Series Players Player of the Year in 2024. [1]

Contents

Early life and amateur career

Smith was born and raised in Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, and was introduced to golf by her grandparents when she was four. She didn't follow the usual collegiate pathway and instead was educated at Tournament Golf College (TGC) before earning a master's degree at the University of Derby, where she is also pursuing a PhD. [2]

In 2021, Smith was runner-up at the Welsh Women's Open Stroke Play Championship, behind Lottie Woad. [3]

Professional career

Smith turned professional in 2022 and joined the Ladies European Tour (LET) after earning status at Q-School. Her best finish in her rookie season was a tie for 27th at the Jabra Ladies Open in France. [1]

She sat out most of the 2023 season due to injury, and on her return won a Rose Ladies Series event in early 2024. [4]

In 2024, she joined the LET Access Series where she finished third in the Order of Merit behind Kajsa Arwefjäll and Helen Briem, to graduate to the LET. [2]

Smith lost the final three events of the season in three consecutive playoffs. [5] She was voted the inaugural Players Player of the Year. [6]

Professional wins (1)

Other wins (1)

Playoff record

LET Access Series playoff record (0–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 2024 Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Anaïs Maggetti
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kelsey Bennett
Bennett won with birdie on first extra hole
2 2024 Lavaux Ladies Open Flag of England.svg Mimi Rhodes Lost to birdie on third extra hole
3 2024 Calatayud Ladies Open Flag of England.svg Ellie Gower Lost to birdie on first extra hole

References

  1. 1 2 "Billie-Jo Smith Bio". Ladies European Tour. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Get to Know LETAS Graduate Billie-Jo Smith". LET Access Series. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. "Billie-Jo Smith". World Amateur Golf Ranking. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. Ballard, Emma (21 October 2024). "Billie-Jo Smith: Triumphs, challenges, and a bright future on the LET". Women & Golf. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. "Sara Byrne slips back to finish sixth at Calatayud Ladies Open". The Irish TImes. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. "Rhodes Secures Playoff Victory at the Lavaux Ladies Open". LET Access Series. Retrieved 23 October 2024.