LET cards for Irish trio: "What a great achievement"
Annabel Wilson, Anna Foster and Sara Byrne
Anna Foster, Annabel Wilson and Sara Byrne secured full Ladies European Tour cards on a historic day for Irish women’s golf a the 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.
Annabel Wilson and Anna Foster
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 mostly on the LPGA’s second tier Epson Tour next year, the trio will join Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh will full LET cards in 2025.
Reigning AIG Irish Women’s Close champion Canice Screene shot a one-under 72 to finish joint 36th on six-under and secure Category 16 membership.
“What a great achievement for all four players to come straight from their amateur career into Tour School with Sara, Annabel and Anna getting their Tour card while Canice has got status on Tour, all at the first time of asking,” said Golf Ireland High Performance Director Neil Manchip.
Sara Byrne shows off her LET card
“So a really really exciting 2025 ahead with these players looking to follow in the footsteps of Leona Maguire, Stephanie Meadow and Lauren Walsh. Lauren turned pro just last year and has done so well in her first year as a professional.
Canice Screene. Picture: Tristan Jones/LET
“These are all great role models for young women and girls coming up through the pathway. Looking forward to watching their progress in 2025.”
In Thailand, Niall Kearney carded a sensational 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 Resort and Golf Club in Hua Hin where Kearney (36) made the four-under par cut on the limit as he made an eagle and three birdies in a five-under 66.
Dunne missed the cut out by five shots after a disappointing four-over 75 but Kearney still has a lot to do to win his playing rights as his 66 still left him four strokes outside the top 35 with a round to go.
At the DP World Tour’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, Gary Hurley shot a four under 68 to go into the weekend tied for 26th on two-under, six shots behind co-leaders Eddie Pepperell and Dane Hamish Brown.
Rookie Conor Purcell shot 71 but missed the cut by four strokes on five-over.
