MUSSELBURGH'S Vikki Laing comfortably negotiated the 72-hole pre-qualifying test at La Manga in Spain, but now faces another four pressure-packed days as she bids to earn her place as a rookie on this season's Ladies' European Tour.
Laing and Pamela Feggans, who have played all their professional golf in America, plus amateurs Kylie Walker, Krystle Caithness and Michele Thomson were the five Scots to come through the pre-qualifying test at the Spanish resort.
Laing, a winner
on the US Futures Tour in 2007, was the best of the tartan contingent, finishing in tenth place on three over par after a final round of one-under-par 72 over the South course on Saturday. But there was no time for celebration as she was straight back into action today over the same course.
Along with Lynn Kenny and Jenna Wilson, who were exempt from pre-qualifying, the five Scottish pre-qualifiers are among a field of 90 players chasing 30 full cards for the 2009 season. After 54 holes, the list will be cut to the top 60 for the final round.
"The European Tour is where I want to play this year," confirmed Laing, the 27-year-old former Midlothian county star who won a record four Scottish Girls' Championships as an amateur. "I'm hoping my coach, Simon Fletcher, can make it over to La Manga to caddie for me during the final stage. It's going to be a tough week."
• CURTIS CUP Scot Sally Watson, from South Queensferry, has been invited to join the select field for the inaugural Annika Invitational girls' tournament to be held at the Ginn Reunion Resort, near Orlando, Florida, from January 16 to 19.
Sally's appearance for Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup match against the United States over the Old Course, St Andrews last May and her outstanding girls' record undoubtedly put her on the list for invitations although she has had limited competitive play since a knee operation a few days after the Curtis Cup match.
Sally, 17, is a student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida.
The full article contains 364 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
