Nicole Gergely, Ellen Smets, Natascha Fink and Elisabeth Esterl

Austria’s Natascha Fink is now Mrs. Natascha Grosschädl-Fink after she tied the knot with Erwin Grosschädl on 5th September, over the weekend.

Natascha, known as “Finky” and “Nash” to her friends on tour, married at a registry office near her home in Graz after a whirlwind romance which started in mid November.

She was joined at the ceremony by LET player Elisabeth Esterl from Germany as the Maid of Honour. LET players Ellen Smets from Belgium and Austrians Nicole Gergely and Eva Steinberger also attended as guests.

Natascha explained: “We tried to arrange the wedding so that it was possible for people to come. I first thought of the Tuesday here so I could put some people in a bus and drive them over because it was one-and-a-half hours (from the UNIQA Ladies Golf Open presented by Raiffeisen). Mr Schneeberger (Föhrenwald GC President) said that Tuesday was the gala dinner and if there was a wedding there will be no gala dinner. But it was perfect because the week before was a week off and the players were coming to Austria anyway.”

Natascha, a 15-year-member of the Ladies European Tour, last played on tour at the Dubai Ladies Masters in 2008 before heading to tour school in January, where she tied for 46th place.

In February she realised that she was pregnant with her first son, due on 5th December 2009, who she intends to call “Paul”. She decided to take off the rest of the year.

“All the sponsor contracts were over and I thought I might start teaching. Then this came and I was like, perfect timing! I might start playing a tournament here or there if possible. The pregnancy has been totally easy. I’ve not been sick and not had any problems,” she said.

Elisabeth Esterl, Natascha, Erwin & Erwin’s sister Heidi

Natascha has already settled down with Erwin in their new home just outside Graz, but she may return to competitive action at some point in the future.

Ten years after her rookie year in 1994, Natascha recorded her best finish when she was second at the 2004 Open de France Dames, but she misses the social life and fun more than the competition.

“What I really miss are the girls, because they are the best friends really,” she said.” I thought when I came home I would meet all my old friends but then I got pregnant so I’m not going out. I think I will play but I don’t know too many girls now - the young ones are kind of taking over!”

Natascha’s new name “Grosschädl,” means “big-head” or “big-scalp” in German. “It’s very Austrian. When I first heard his name I thought, “It can’t be true, but now I think it’s funny,” she said.

The Ladies European Tour wishes Erwin and Natascha all the best for the future!