Four Aussies make LET Final Q-School cut
Ladies European Tour | 2009 Ladies European Tour Q-School - Final Stage | Round Three | 15 Jan 2009
A total of 55 players, including 15 amateurs, have earned the chance to play on the Ladies European Tour this year after surviving the 54-hole cut at Final Qualifying School in Spain.
Frances Bondad tops the Aussie assault in 5th place and is well on her way to securing her fully-exempt LET Tour Card for 2009. Marousa Polias and Melanie Holmes-Smith sit eight strokes back in equal 29th and on the cut line for the all-important top 30. South Australian Stephanie Na has some work to do at T43.
All 55 players who made the cut mark of 226, seven-under-par, have secured playing rights for the 2009 season and will progress to the last day. At the end of Thursday’s final round the top 30 players will achieve a much higher ranking, which will guarantee their entry into most of the tournaments on the schedule.
At the end of the third round, Anna Nordqvist was poised to earn her full tour card for the 2009 season. The 21-year-old from the town of Eskilstuna in Southern Sweden led the field with a three-round total of eight-under-par 211. She followed opening rounds of 75 and 69 with a six-under 67 on the South Course at La Manga. She mixed one bogey with seven birdies for her 67, which was the lowest round of the tournament.
Beginning the day in sunny but windy conditions, Nordqvist went out in one-under 36 and fired five birdies over the back nine for an inward total of five-under, 31.
“It’s all about getting into the top 30 and this is obviously where you want to be,” said the 6-foot tall Nordqvist, who holds non-exempt status as a rookie on the US LPGA Tour. “It’s early in the season and I’m happy just to play some good golf because I didn’t get that much practise over Christmas at home in Sweden.”
Nordqvist already boasts a record of which many LET professionals would be proud. She was the 2008 British Amateur Champion and the leading amateur at both the RICOH Women’s British Open and 2008 Scandinavian TPC Hosted by Annika, where she tied for 42nd and 6th respectively.
Having turned professional on 1st January with a handicap of +4.8 she is now looking forward to life on tour. “I want to continue to get better and see how well I can play,” she said. “There are many parts of my game that can be improved. Hopefully I can play some good golf in Europe and also improve my status on the LPGA.”
Scotland’s Lynn Kenny finished the day one shot behind Nordqvist in second position after an excellent round of five-under 68. Meanwhile the second round leader Beth Allen was third on six-under-par. Finland’s Jenni Kuosa looks set to regain her full card, finishing the day in fourth position.
Source – LET
