Martina Gillen and Danielle McVeigh are the two Irish players in a field of 93 representing 29 different countries at La Manga Club in Spain this week hoping to either earn Ladies European Tour membership for 2011 - or improve their current status.
Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and Louise Larsson edged towards their goal by leading the two fields of pre-qualifiers at the initial stage a fortnight ago with Hedwall recording a four-round score of 11 under par while Larsson finished with a seven under total.
The pair now face an even tougher task as they join the players who need to re-qualify after poor seasons in 2010 and this group alludes Maria Verchenova, Carly Booth, Monica V Christiansen, Pamela Feggans, Julie Tvede, Kym Larratt and Carmen Alonso.
Verchenova tied for 29th in Dubai last week but it wasn’t enough to secure a full card for the 2011 season and Christiansen looked set to make the cut in Dubai and had a chance to retain her card but signed for a wrong score on the second day and was disqualified.
There are a number of other professionals hoping to join the Ladies European Tour including Belen Mozo, Nicole Perrot and Louise Friberg.
They will join 15 amateurs in the field hoping to pursue their dreams of professional golf. They are: Lucie Andre, Caroline Bon, Tara Davies, Chrisje de Vries, Hannah Grant, Line Vedel Hansen, Joanna Klatten, Liebelei Lawrence, Danielle McVeigh, Melanie Maetzler, Marieke Nivard, Klara Spilkova, Benedicte Toumpsin, Iliska Verwey and Kim Williams.
Final Qualifying will be a five-round examination at La Manga Club in Los Belones, Cartagena, from Wednesday 15th to Sunday 19th December, with a cut to the top 50 players and ties after four rounds.
The first four rounds will be played over both the North and South Courses and the final round will be played on the South.
After five rounds (90 holes), the top 30 women will earn playing rights for 2011 in Category 8a while players finishing in positions 31-50 and ties will earn category 9b. Players who fail to make the 72 hole cut will be eligible for Membership in Category 11a.
