Sara Byrne
Annabel Wilson
Anna Foster
Anna Foster, Annabel Wilson and Sara Byrne secured full cards on a historic day for Irish women’s golf at LET’s Lalla Aicha Q-School in Morocco.
Elm Park star Foster closed with a four-under 69 at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech to finish tied for sixth on 17-under in the race to make the top 20 and ties who won Category 12 membership.
She finished seven shots behind Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea, who won the five-round event by a shot from Wales’ Darcey Harry. Lurgan ace Wilson tied for eighth on 15-under after a 69 while Douglas’ Byrne completed a memorable season by also shooting 69 to finish 15th on 12-under.
While Byrne will play mainly on the LPGA’s second-tier Epson Tour next year, the trio join Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh with full LET status.
Reigning Irish Close champion Canice Screene secured Category 16 membership by carding a 72 to finish joint 36th on six-under.
“What a great achievement for all four players to come straight from their amateur career into Tour School… while Canice has got status on Tour, all at the first time of asking,” said Golf Ireland high-performance director Neil Manchip.
In Thailand, Niall Kearney carded a bogey-free 66 to make the final-round battle for 35 cards at the Asian Tour Q-School as Paul Dunne missed the 72-hole cut. Only the top 70 and ties survived at Lake View in Hua Hin, but while Kearney (36) made the four-under-par cut on the limit, Dunne missed out by five shots after a 75.
Despite his five-under-par effort, Kearney is joint 63rd, four strokes outside the top 35 with a round to go.
At the Mauritius Open, Gary Hurley shot a four-under 68 to share 26th on two-under at halfway, six behind Eddie Pepperell and Dane Hamish Brown. Conor Purcell shot 71 but missed the one-over cut by four strokes.
Mauritius Open, 9.0am PNC Championship, 6.0pm (Both live on Sky Sports)
