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BackCharlie Douglass and Rachel Jennings win full LET cards
Charlie Douglass and Rachel Jennings, who were both top England amateurs, will join the professionals of the Ladies European Tour for the 2011 season.
They both finished comfortably among the top 30 at Qualifying School at the La Manga Club, Spain, to win full players' cards. Both Charlie and Rachel came through a nine-round examination to take their places on Tour, having played their way through the 72-hole pre-qualifying event to reach the final, 90-hole, qualifying.
They will join other recent graduates from England amateur ranks, including Melissa Reid, who was third on the 2010 LET order of merit, and fellow tournament winners Felicity Johnson and Florentyna Parker. The trio, alongside Laura Davies and Trish Johnson, helped England lead the way on Tour in 2010 with a total of nine titles.
Charlie, from Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, finished final qualifying in a share of 18th place. She was three-under par for the last two rounds of the tournament, both on the South course, and was eight-over for the 90 holes.
Rachel, from Izaak Walton, Staffordshire, was one shot further back, in a tie for 25th place. She too was under par for the final round returning, like Charlie, a one-under 72.
Rachel, who was a Curtis Cup player, turned professional mid-way through 2010. Charlie, the 2009 English champion, turned pro on the eve of the qualifying process.
The qualifying school was won by Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, who was 15-under par and nine shots clear of second place.
Another former England international, Rachel Bell of Yorkshire, was also among the top 30 players who won full cards. Rachel has played three seasons as a professional. However, Somerset amateur Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) missed the 72-hole cut for the final day’s play.
Full details: www.ladieseuropeantour.com
Rachel and Charlie on course to make LET Q-school cut
17 December 2010
New professionals Rachel Jennings and Charlie Douglass are on course to make tomorrow’s cut at final stage qualifying for the Ladies European Tour at the La Manga Club, Spain.
But Somerset amateur Hannah Grant has a fight on her hands after a nightmare run of closing holes saw her slip down the leaderboard.
After tomorrow’s fourth round the field will be cut to the top 50 players and ties. They will play the final 18 holes on the South course and the leading 30 players will win one of the full LET cards on offer. The others who make the cut will earn an exemption status.
Today, there was a one hour delay to tee times due to frost on the ground in the morning, before the players teed off in cold but sunny and calm conditions. However, the winds picked up significantly at lunchtime and were howling by the close of play.
Rachel, a Curtis Cup player from Izaak Walton, is currently sharing 32nd place on 10-over after her third round of five-over 76 on the North course. Charlie, the 2009 English champion from Brocket Hall, is tied 35th after returning 79, also on the North course.
Hannah, from Enmore Park, was scoring steadily until a disastrous nine on the par four 15th on the South course. She followed up with three birdies and signed for an 11-over 84 which saw her drop to a share of 76th place.
Full details: www.ladieseuropeantour.com
English trio make progress at LET qualifying
16 December 2010
New professionals Charlie Douglass and Rachel Jennings and Somerset amateur Hannah Grant all moved up the leaderboard on the second day of final stage qualifying for the Ladies European Tour.
Charlie, the 2009 English champion from Brocket Hall, improved three places into a share of 14th when she returned a two-over par 75 on the South course at La Manga Club Spain. She is three-over altogether.
Rachel, a Curtis Cup player from Izaak Walton, shot one-under par 72 on the South course and improved her ranking by 46 places. She’s currently five over for the tournament and shares 31st place.
Hannah, from Enmore Park, moved up 19 place to tied 43rd with her second round of two over 73 on the North course. She was one-under par on the homeward half.
The field will be cut from 93 to the top 50 players and ties after four rounds. After five rounds, the top 30 women will earn playing rights for 2011 in Category 8a while players finishing in positions 31-50 and ties will earn category 9b. Players who fail to make the 72 hole cut will be eligible for Membership in Category 11a.
The first four rounds will be played over both the North and South courses and the final round will be played on the South.
Charlie makes a steady start at LET qualifying school
15 December 2010
New professional Charlie Douglass made a steady start to the final stage of qualifying for the 2011 Ladies European Tour with a one-over par 72 on the North course at the La Manga Club, Spain.
Charlie, who was last year’s English champion, turned pro on the eve of the pre-qualifying process and successfully played her way into the final stage. Her first round included four birdies and five bogeys and the Brocket Hall player shares 17th place.
The pace was set, on a cold and windy day, by Liebelei Lawrence of Greece who scored four-under 69 on the South course.
Somerset amateur Hannah Grant (Enmore Park) had a mixed bag in her five-over 78 on the South course and is in a tie for 62nd place. Her score included four birdies and two double bogeys.
A shot further back is Staffordshire’s Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) who had just one birdie in her six-over 77 on the North course. Rachel, who is tied 77th, was a Curtis Cup player and turned professional earlier this year.
The field will be cut from 93 to the top 50 players and ties after four rounds. After five rounds, the top 30 women will earn playing rights for 2011 in Category 8a while players finishing in positions 31-50 and ties will earn category 9b. Players who fail to make the 72 hole cut will be eligible for Membership in Category 11a.
The first four rounds will be played over both the North and South courses and the final round will be played on the South.
English trio tee up at LET qualifying school
14 December 2010
English amateur Hannah Grant and new professionals Charlie Douglass and Rachel Jennings begin their final campaign today for playing rights on the 2011 Ladies European Tour.
They are among a field of 93 players, representing 29 different countries, who are teeing up at La Manga Club in Spain hoping to either earn LET membership for 2011 or to improve their current status.
Hannah, from Enmore Park in Somerset, is one of only 15 amateurs to make it to the final qualifying stage. Rachel, from Izaak Walton in Staffordshire, and Charlie, from Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire, both turned professional before Tour school. Rachel was a Curtis Cup player while Charlie won the English championship in 2009 and both were England internationals.
All three successfully came through the pre-qualifying stage, also held at the La Manga Club. Now, they join the players who need to re-qualify after poor seasons in 2010. Altogether there are 10 English players in the field.
Final qualifying will be a five-round examination with a cut to the top 50 players and ties after 72 holes. The first four rounds will be played over both the North and South Courses and the final round will be played on the South.
After five rounds the top 30 women will earn playing rights for 2011 in Category 8a while players finishing in positions 31-50 and ties will earn category 9b. Players who fail to make the 72 hole cut will be eligible for membership in Category 11a.
