Thursday 25 October 2007

Jenna Wilson qualifies for the Ladies European Tour

Scottish amateur champion Jenna Wilson (Stathaven) made it by the skin of her teeth into the fourth and final round of the Ladies European Tour Final Qualifying School. A third round of 74 gave her a 54-hole tally of two-over-par 218, which was the limit mark for qualifying for the final day.
But the most important thing is that the Strathaven player has guaranteed herself a place on the Ladies European Tour next season. She will gain entry to more tournaments in 2008 if she can come up with a very good final round to jump from joint 46th into the top 30.
As predicted, Thursday was "moving day" with many players producing their best round of the three so far to climb up the standings. So that's why Jenna, also she improved by a shot on her second-round 75, actually lost ground because a lot of players surged past her.
She started with a birdie 2 but then shed shots at each of the third, fourth, fifth and eighth to be out in three-over-par 39 - her worst of the week against the par of 36.
A birdie at the 11th gave her the encouragement she needed. Although Jenna bogeyed the 12th, a birdie at the 15th was vital. She needed at least to par the last three holes to stay on the right side of the cut and, to her credit, the Scot stood up to the test of nerve, more than golf, to come home in one-under-par 35.
Perhaps the most surprising non-qualifier was Melissa Reid, the Chevin, Derby girl who won the Helen Holm Scottish women's stroke-play in April at Troon, the St Rule Trophy in June and was the leading amateur in the Ricoh Women's British Open over the Old Course in mid-summer.
Thanks go to Gillian Kirkwood for the report