“It’s such a dream come true, I’m still in shock” - Lauren Walsh wins LPGA card
Kildare’s Lauren Walsh produced the goods when it mattered most and fired a sensational five-under 67 to win her LPGA card with a shot to spare in Alabama.
The Castlewarden star (25) was under pressure after opening with a three over 74 in a gruelling Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage battle to finish in the top 25 and ties.
“I am just absolutely over the moon,” said the Wake Forest graduate. “It’s such a dream come true.”
The event was reduced from five rounds to four after torrential rain washed out the opening day at Robert Trent Jones at Magnolia Grove in Mobile.
But Walsh followed up with rounds of 70 and 69 to head into the fourth round with her hopes intact.
She was tied for 31st through eight holes of her delayed final round overnight, two strokes outside the mark, and knew she needed to play her last ten holes in three under to have a chance.
In the end, she went one better, racing home in four-under 32 on the Crossing Course thanks to birdies at the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th to tie for 17th on six-under, a shot inside the cut-off.
“It’s been a long time in the works, not just the last two years as a pro but as an amateur,” a delighted Walsh added.
“My coach Shane O’Grady has always said the top of the pyramid was to get to the LPGA and to get there now is just unbelievable.”
As for her final ten holes, she knew she just had to stay patient.
“Tee to green was really good all week, but I didn’t hole as many putts,” she said. “So with my caddie, Gary (Du Plooy), we said just stay patient, it’s going to come
“I was in a really good mindset all week, especially today. I knew what I had to do with ten holes to go and yeah, I am still in shock to be honest.
“The cut for the cards was four under overnight, but I figured it was going to go to five. So I thought three under for the last ten would get it done, and I went one better.
“It was nice to roll in the birdies on 16 and 17th to give myself a little bit of a buffer coming down the last. I didn’t need it as I made par in the end.”
It was a sensational end to a brilliant season for the Carton House touring professional, who finished tenth in the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit by just 2.52 ranking points after the final counting Open de España to secure her place in Alabama.
“That was a stressful few hours in Spain, waiting to see if I remained in the top 10,” she said.
“But I will really enjoy it now and celebrate with my family when I get back. It’s been a big team effort.”
In the end, 31 players won LPGA playing rights, including 13 Europeans, as Helen Briem, the striking 6’3” German, won the top card on 13 under.
Briem and Walsh will be joined in the US next year by Germany’s Polly Mack and Isi Gabsa, France’s Perrine Delacour and Nastasia Nadaud, Swiss Chiara Tamburlini, Spain’s Carolina Lopez-Chacarra, Sweden's Frida Kinhult, Italy's Carolina Melgrati, England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Mimi Rhodes and Slovenia’s Ana Belac.
The focus now moves to the battle for Ladies European Tour cards as a field of 255 players representing 49 nationalities competes at four pre-qualifying venues from Wednesday.
Canice Screen and amateur Olivia Hunt must finish in the top 20 at Palm Golf, while Aine Donegan and Olivia Mehaffey need to make the top 19 at Fairmont Royal Palm.
The goal is to qualify to join Castlerock’s Annabel Wilson at the Final Stage, which begins at Royal Golf Marrakech next Tuesday, with the top 20 and ties after five rounds earning LET cards.
