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| Pamela at Carnoustie this year - Click to enlarge |
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
British international amateur golfer Pamela Pretswell from Hamilton is waiting for the midweek updating of the Women’s World Amateur Rankings with more than her normal interest.
The top 25 world-ranked players at the closing date of December 7 for the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at La Manga in January will be exempt from playing in the pre-qualifying tournament over 72 holes from January 8 to 11.
They will go straight into the Final Q School field over 90 holes at La Manga from January 15 to 19.
Bothwell Castle GC member Pamela, 22-year-old graduate of Glasgow University , finished third in the French women’s amateur international championship at the weekend when rain washed out the final round and deprived the Scot the opportunity of regaining the lead she held at the end of 18 holes.
“I have my fingers crossed that the revised rankings this week will push me up from my current ranking of No 32 into the top 25, but I have to be honest and say that I think is unlikely I will be moved up seven places on the strenth of finishing third in the French championship,” said down-to-earth Pamela.
“Therefore, I am planning to do both stages at La Manga. Exemption would be a very welcome bonus but I love the courses at the Spanish resort. I was a member of the Scotland side that won bronze medals at La Manga in the European women’s team championship last year.
“I love the courses and the La Manga resort as well so last year’s experience will surely be some benefit to me. I hope the happy times at La Manga will continue and I am hoping to play in the Ladies European Tour Access event at the Spanish venue next month.
“That would be perfect preparation for the Q School and a good opportunity to play with the professionals and see how I measure up to them.”
Pamela, who played for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup of 2010, the Vagliano Trophy matches of 2009 and 2011 and the team of five that won the Astor Trophy at Fairhaven last summer, won the British women’s open amateur stroke-play at Tenby, South Wales last year.
The fact that she has never won a Scottish women’s or girls’ title might have something to do with the fact that tennis was her game – she was Junior Wimbledon class and in the same training squad as Andy Murray – until she was 14 or 15 years of age.
It was only then that Pamela made the decision to give up tennis, because of the demands of squad training were leaving her with no spare time and she knew she would be going to university.
Unearthing sponsors seems even harder for a girl who wants to be a tour professional than it is for her male equivalent and Pamela has nothing lined up. IMG have not come knocking on her door, and are unlikely to.
“I’ve had a very enjoyable season with the highlights definitely being winning the Astor Trophy with the GB and I team at Fairhaven in the summer and playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Carnoustie,” said Pamela.
“I am really looking forward to Tour School and will be working very hard over the next couple of months to give myself the best chance possible to win my tour card.”
I am sure the LGU's Curtis Cup selectors will wish her the best of luck at La Manga but one could hardly blame them if they have mixed feelings because the GB and I line-up will be weakened considerably if Pamela Pretswell is not available for selection for the match against the United States at Nairn next June.
