Malaysia's Ashley Lau will be among 144 participants from 35 countries in this week's 35th European Ladies’ Amateur Championship, which starts on Wednesday at Le Grand Parcours at Golf de Saint Germain in Paris, France.

21 of the world's top 100 amateurs will tee it up at Le Grand Parcours, including two top 10 players in Austria's Emma Spitz (7th) and Denmark's Amalie Leth-Nissen (9th).

Organised by the European Golf Association, the championship regularly attracts the top amateur players from Europe and further afield. The four-round event features a 54-hole cut to the top 60 and ties.

"It's a great event at a lovely golf course. It will be good to play against the top European girls," said Lau, who is currently ranked 28th in the Women's World Amateur Golf Ranking.

"I don't set targets for events. I just prepare myself as best I can, play my best and let the results just happen," added the University of Michigan senior.

Le Grand Parcours at Golf de Saint Germain is frequently ranked among the top-10 courses in France and the top-20 on the continent. The parkland-style layout has hosted the Open de France nine times and was also the venue for the first Espirito Santo Trophy in 1964.

"The course is very nice and has large tricky greens. Due to the hot weather, the fairways have dried out a bit so it's playing shorter than normal. There's lots of trouble off the fairways, so those who drive the ball good will do well.

"We are also in a heatwave so it will take lots of mental strength to stay focused and maintain a high energy level in these conditions," noted Lau.

Lau will have the services and support of coach Fergal McGeown, thanks to the TSM Charity Golf Foundation.

"Thank you to TSM Charity Golf for assisting me in coming to this event, and getting Fergal here as well. It's been very helpful having my coach here to assist with strategy on how to play the course and fine tune a couple of things," said Lau.

Past winners of the championship include major champions and Solheim Cup players such as France's Celine Boutier who won in 2012, Germany's Sophia Popov (2010), Sweden's Caroline Hedwall (2009 and 2007) and Spain's Carlota Ciganda (2008 and 2004). Swedish star Anna Nordqvist was third in 2005, while Norway's Suzann Pettersen also claimed third place in 2000.

2021 champion Ingrid Lindblad of Sweden will not be defending her title as the World Amateur No 2 is competing in this week's Evian Championship. Germany's Paula Schulz-Hanssen, the 2020 winner, is the only former champion competing and will have a chance to become just the fifth player to win the event twice.

The hosts will be well represented with 18 players in the field, inclduing Chloé Salort who claimed the silver medal in 2020.