Walsh looks to wrap up LPGA Q-Series spot in Spain

Lauren Walsh of Ireland during the first round of the KPMG Women's Irish Open at Carton House. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET

Lauren Walsh wants to finish a banner season on a high note at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España and secure her spot at next week's Final Stage of the LPGA Q-Series.

The Co Kildare talent (25) has racked up seven top-10s this year and hopes to perform in Malaga and make sure she is battling for an LPGA card in Alabama.

The top 10 in the Order of Merit are exempt into the Q-Series field, and tenth-ranked Walsh wants to take advantage of a second chance to battle for her US card after missing out at last month's Qualifying stage in Florida.

"It's been a really positive year," said the Castlewarden star, who must hold off Anna Huang of Canada, Wales' Darcey Harry and Sweden's Kajsa Arwefjäll to secure that Q-Series tee time.

"I learned a lot from my rookie year, and I was able to apply those experiences this year."

Irish rookies Anna Foster (42nd in the rankings) and Sara Byrne (67th) also tee it up in Malaga, where Singapore's Shannon Tan and England's Mimi Rhodes will battle for the Order of Merit.

"Overall, there have been a lot of good results, and I got in contention, which was the main goal," Walsh added. "So it's been really good. All going well, hopefully I get to tee it up next week at Q-Series."

Meanwhile, Marco Penge headlines the field in the DP World Tour's season-opening BMW Australian PGA at Royal Queensland in Brisbane.