Glass half full as Walsh and Mehaffey agonisingly miss out on full cards at LET Q-School
Lauren Walsh of Ireland plays her stroke from the No. 3 tee during the second round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Lauren Walsh and Olivia Mehaffey came up just short at the final stage of the LET's Lalla Aicha Q-School in Morocco, but they still have much to look forward to in 2024.
Only the top 20 and ties earned full cards in Marrakech, but Walsh closed with a bogey-free, four-under 69 to finish just two shots outside the qualifying mark on eight-under-par with Mehaffey a shot further back after a 68.
Both can still look forward to getting around 15 starts in 2024 and possibly improving their status after the reshuffle.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed to come up just the two shots short of a full card for next year, but there are a lot of positives to take away," said Castlewarden star Walsh (23), who finished tied 24th on eight-under as 22 players earned full cards on 10-under or better.
"I hit it really well all week; I just needed a couple more putts to fall my way. But overall, I've quite high status in category 16, which means I should get a good few starts next year.
"After speaking to some LET staff and some of the other girls, I should get close to 15 starts, and hopefully, if I can play well early in the year, I might be able to bump up that category in the reshuffle.
"So overall, I think it'll all work out. So there are a lot of positives to take, and I'm excited for all the opportunities in 2024."
Mehaffey faced an uphill battle after opening with a three-over 75 at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech.
But while she fought back with rounds of 72, 74 and 67 to go into the final round five shots outside the projected qualifying mark, she made a costly double-bogey at her ninth hole before launching a specatuclar charge on the way home.
Starting on the 10th at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech, the Royal County Down Ladies' star (26) was two-under after birdies at the 15th and 17th before she racked up a double-bogey seven at the par-five 18th.
She didn't give up, but while the former Arizona State University standout birdied the first, second, fourth, seventh and eighth, her homeward nine of five-under 31 left her three shots outside the qualifying places in a tie for 27th on seven-under.
Mehaffey would only reflect on the positives and the opportunities that lie ahead, overcoming some challenging mental health battles over the past year.
“ I guess for me it was nice to see myself play some really great golf when I needed to the last couple of days,” she said
“I wasn’t in a great position after my start, so being able to do it when I needed it was a good feeling. I think this category will give me a decent amount of starts and it’s similar to what I have had before.
“Obviously, there is the reshuffle and possibilities to climb up even higher. I feel I have made great strides with many aspects on and off the course this year, even though the scores haven’t always shown that.
“It hasn’t been the easiest couple of years for me. To have the opportunity to continue to compete and do what I love is a great feeling. I look forward to the 2024 season!”
Nataliya Guseva, a Russian national playing as a neutral athlete, took the top card when she closed with a four-under 69 to win the event by four strokes from South Africa's Cara Gorlei on 23-under.
England's Annabel Fuller was one of three amateurs to win full cards after a closing 70 left her joint fifth on 16-under.
