American Casey Danielson led the qualifiers for the Ladies European Tour’s 2018 season after a thrilling final day of golf at Lalla Aicha Tour School in Morocco.
As the sun set over the Atlas Mountains on the desert-style Palm Golf Ourika course in Marrakech, 25 women earned their full Tour cards and 35 more were eligible for partial status.
Danielson, who had led the field over the previous three rounds, began the day with a two-stroke lead and carded a fifth round of 70 to tie for first place on 14 under par and force a playoff against Spain’s Carmen Alonso and Manon Molle from France.
After the trio returned to the 18th hole, Alonso and Molle both missed their birdie chances, allowing Danielson to two-putt from 80 feet for birdie to claim the victory.
Just behind Danielson was French amateur Molle, from Brittany, who was delighted with her final round of 69. Her cause was helped by having a brother-in-law who was the director of golf at Palm Golf Ourika, allowing her virtually unlimited access to the course since the summer.
She said: “It feels great. I’ve been practicing here for the last three months. I knew it was the last time I would be playing in 2017, so I just enjoyed it and I’m so pleased with my score.”
Alonso, from Madrid, was five under par over her last five holes and recorded a 68 to retain her card. She said: “I’m happy about my round but I’m even happier for my Spanish colleagues who made the cut to gain their full cards because it’s great to have more Spanish players on the tour.”
Further down the leaderboard on 10 under par, was England’s Gabriella Cowley, who finished. She said: “I’m so happy. I was four-over through 14 on the first day, and my goal was to finish in the top five, so I’m delighted to get a good category for next year.”
She will be joined on tour next season by Kent’s Cloe Frankish, who finished tied 16th after a final round 72 for a six under par total.
In the play-off to determine the fifth place in Category 5b, Norwegian amateur Karoline Lund eagled the fifth hole to defeat compatriot Jeanette Marita Engzelius, Nina Pegova from Russia and Silvia Banon from Spain.
The other players who finished in 6th to 25th positions and earned Category 8a status were Julia Engström, Vikki Laing, Cajsa Persson, Laura Sedda, Elina Nummenpaa, Mireia Prat, Piti Martinez Bernal, Elia Folch, Sanna Nuutinen, Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Sideri Vanova, Ainil Bakar, Katja Pogacar and Ariane Provot.
After six players played for the remaining two spots in Category 8a, Norwegians Céline Borge and Madelene Stavnar, who both play at Vestfold Golf Club, earned the 24th and 25th cards.