Battling Bondad LET Q-School runner-up

BY Liz White | Ladies European Tour | 2009 Ladies European Tour Q-School - Final Stage | Round Four | 16 Jan 2009

Frances Bondad has retained her Ladies European Tour Card after finishing second on 10 under 282 at the Q-School tournament in Spain today.

Bondad shot the round of the day, a six under 66, to finish three shots behind the winner, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who completed the four round event on 13 under 279.

Only one other Australian made it through, Bronwyn Mullins Lane, who finished just inside the top 30 cut line in 29th position on six over.

Today’s runner up title was a great achievement by Bondad who played without a caddy for the tournament.

“I am really happy, I am stoked,” she said.

“I wasn’t going to go back to Q-School because I didn’t really have to, but I am glad I went back just to prove it to myself that I could do it.”

Bondad finished outside the money winners’ cut off list after her first season on the LET and would have had conditional status for 2009.

She decided at the last minute to enter the Q School to see if she could gain a full playing card for 09.

It turned out to be a great early birthday present for Bondad who turns 21 next week.

“If I had a conditional card you don’t know if you have a tournament to play in and I didn’t want to be that way next year,” she said.

It wasn’t a good rookie year for Bondad who didn’t make any money on the tour. She experienced a lot of difficulty being away from her family back in Sydney and also struggled to find the right caddy.

“That’s why I didn’t have a caddy for here, because I couldn’t afford one and also because I didn’t want one.”

Bondad showed great mental toughness to fight her way through this week.

“I said to myself it is a new year it is a fresh start, you can’t think about what happened last year you have to look forward,” she said.

“I felt really experienced this week and so that made me feel more confident and more relaxed.”

Also relaxed about her playing future is Bronwyn Mullins Lane.

After missing out by an agonising one stroke last year, this year the 30-year-old made the top 30 but just one shot.

“Yeah what a big relief. I was just hoping it was not a playoff again like last year,” she laughed.

After a seven over start of 80 in round one, Mullins Lane battled all week with today being her best round of one under 72.

“It was more just a bad first nine on day one, after that I was just one over after the remaining holes that day,” she said.

“I don’t know whether it was nerves or just a bad start in the morning but I just had to put it down to I have got my worst one out of the way.”

Mullins Lane said having the Solheim Cup Vice Captain Joanne Morley on the bag for the week enabled her to stay calm after her first round blow out.

“She helped me a lot to stay patient, she just helped me keep things in perspective.

“You can’t lose focus for anything. I had quite a few good up and downs where I had to work really hard for them and when I look back they are probably the shots that made more difference than having a few birdies.”

Other Australians in the field went very close to securing their card.

Marousa Polias finished on seven over, just one shot short of the six over cut off and will now have to wait and see how many starts she gets on the LET next year.

Engaged to an Italian and living in Italy for next year will certainly help Polias plan for 2009.

“I live in Italy most of the year so I will be up here anyway so I hope to get in as many events as possible,” she said.

“It is just a matter of giving it a shot and making the most of the opportunities.”

Melanie Holmes Smith had a disappointing finish of four over today to complete the tournament on eight over. She was philosophical about her tournament and playing future.

“I will just have to see what kind of starts I get. It is frustrating because I can’t go to people and say I have a full card for next year so you need to sponsor me,” she said.

“I will just try to make the best of it, it is what it is, but I didn’t give up so I am proud of myself there.”

19-year-old amateur Stephanie Na also finished on eight over with Holmes Smith and will now return home with some hard thinking to do.

It is unclear whether she will turn pro and take her chances with her conditional LET status, or remain an amateur and continue her scholarship with the AIS.