Leona Maguire clinches Ladies European Tour card with playoff birdie
Leona Maguire of Ireland. Credit: Tristan Jones
Leona Maguire made a 15-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to beat Sweden's Sarah Nilsson in a playoff for the last full card at the Ladies European Tour's Lalla Aicha Tour School in Morocco.
The Slieve Russell star (24) was forced to use all her vast experience to clinch the last of five Category 5C cards, closing with an immaculate, five-under 67 at Amelkis Golf Club in Marrakesh to tie with Nillson on 13-under par.
“I’m delighted,” Leona said after her brilliant finish to a gruelling first season in the professional ranks. “To come as close as I did at LPGA Q-School, it would have been a little tough to swallow if I came that close again at this one.”
Here’s @Leona_maguire holing from 15 feet in the playoff to win her card at the @LATSchool @LETgolf That little fist pump will look familiar to quite a few in the years ahead. pic.twitter.com/riECeuUIM1
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) December 20, 2018
The Swedish player carded a six-under 66 to edge into fifth place on her own before Maguire birdied the 16th to draw level and then parred the last two holes to tie for fifth on 13-under 347.
The pair then headed to the 376-yard, par-four 10th where Leona hit a nine iron to 15 feet and after watching Nilsson lip out for birdie, poured in her putt to secure a Category 5 card that gives her many options next season.
“I knew a top five was what I need to do at the start of the week and while I didn’t quite birdie the last [in regulation, missing from 12 feet], I played some really great golf today, probably some of the best I’ve played this week,” said Leona, who birdied the sixth, eighth, 10th, 12th and 16th before sealing the deal in sudden-death.
“It was nice to get that birdie down 10 in the playoff — the 10th was good to me today.”
Leona has a full category on the Symetra Tour next year and while she’s also certain to get invitations to play in LPGA Tour events, a LET card gives her more options.
The Symetra Tour doesn’t start until March so she is likely to play some early season events on the Ladies European Tour at the very least and will sit down with the diary and work out a schedule over the Christmas and New Year break.
England's Bronte Law claimed the top card on 26-under par, closing with a 67 to win by a shot from Sweden's Linnea Strom. whp shot 66, on 26-under.
German amateur Esther Henseleit was third on 18-under after a 64 with England's Sian Evans two shots further back in fourth after a 67.
"I’m delighted," Leona said. "I knew going into the play-off that that one spot would make a huge difference for next year. I’m just delighted that I could birdie it and get that fifth spot.
“I felt like I have been playing well now for a while and it all really clicked and came together nicely these last two weeks when I really needed it the most.
“I could see the leaderboard and people were really going low and I knew I had to keep with them and keep making birdies so it was nice to keep going and post a bogey-free round right when I need it.”
Leona can look forward now to recharging her batteries after a rollercoaster rookie season that began with a share of 15th on her LPGA Tour debut in Atlantic City in June.
"It's been a lot of travel since I turned pro so it will be nice to get a break,” she said. “It’s been all go since the college season started in February so it will be nice to get to relax and unpack my suitcase.
"I’ll go home and enjoy Christmas with the family and plan my schedule in the new year. I’d like to win an event.
"The Symetra Tour doesn't start until March so I will see what way I am going to go and whether I will hop back and forth.
"That's the nice thing about having Category 5 over Category 8. I should get into pretty much all the LET events, which makes a big difference.
"There will be quite an overlap so I will have to sit down and see what makes the most sense.
"It's a nice problem to have. I'd have taken this after LPGA Q-School. After that week, the plan was to turn my focus to this and at least I've got options now.
“This has to be up there at one of the highlights of the year. I knew exactly what I needed to do coming here and it’s a lot easier said than done.
“It’s been a marathon over the last two weeks. I know what it’s like to miss out at the LPGA Q-School and I didn’t want to be in that boat again so it’s a nice early Christmas present going home.”
European Solheim Cup skipper Catriona Matthew is happy to see Law back in the European fold.
But she also indicated earlier this year that Maguire is on her radar and if the Cavan star can win next year, she will have at least a chance of challenging for one of four wildcards for the clash with the USA at Gleneagles in September.
The top three eligible players on the LET Solheim Cup Points ranking and the top five on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings will be joined by four captain’s picks at Gleneagles from September 9-15.
“I haven't really thought about it,” Leona said. I will see where I'm playing first.”
