The growing contingency of Irish talent on the Ladies European Tour (LET) has a new name for 2026 with Curtis Cup winner Aine Donegan earning her full card at Lalla Aicha Q-School.
Donegan topped the Pre-Qualifier at Fairmont in Marrakech before finishing T5 at the Final-Qualifier with a score of 13-under par. The result was one of relief for the 23-year-old who turned professional at the beginning of 2025 following an distinguished amateur career.
“I’m over the moon, to be honest.” Donegan said, who earns Category 12 status for 2026. “It got a bit emotional on the 18th when I made the last putt. I said to Sam, my caddie, after I hit my third shot into 18, ‘how am I sitting?’ as I hadn’t look at leaderboards all day. He said ‘you’re fine’, and then I said ‘let’s roll this one in’. It went in and there was so much relief.
“It felt like we were here [at Q-School] forever! My caddie said to me on the final day, ‘last day of war’, and to be honest that’s kind of what it felt like. We just took it day by day but I’m absolutely delighted now.
“Golf hasn’t been very nice to me this year. I’ve had a tough year and the last two months [leading up to Q-School] I’ve worked the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life. To see the result, it’s really nice.”
The Irish star graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) last Spring where she played collegiate golf alongside LPGA winner Ingrid Lindblad and fellow Q-School graduate Carla Tejedo Mulet.
In 2024, Donegan was part of a star-studded GB&I Curtis Cup side which was victorious under captain Catriona Matthew. The team featured the likes of Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes, both now LET winners and LPGA members, as well as Sara Byrne and Lorna McClymont.
“It gives me huge amounts of encouragement [to see what that group have gone on to do],” the Irishwoman said “I think there’s kind of an added pressure to being on that team. Because everyone has done so well. They’ve all done really, really well. I’ve learned from them a lot.
Donegan also becomes the latest Irish player to earn an LET card. She follows an ever-growing group of players from the nation to tee up on the circuit including Byrne, Leona Maguire, Lauren Walsh, Anna Foster and Canice Screene.
“I have to give a big shoutout to Anna Foster,” Donegan said. “She gave me so much advice coming to Morocco – where to stay, even what to eat. I couldn’t have done it without a lot of people who have helped me prepare for this event. I can’t thank everyone at home enough for the support. My phone has been blowing up with messages of support. I’m very, very grateful for it.”
As for 2026, Donegan now has plenty to look forward to with the LET visiting 21 countries across five continents during its global schedule.
“I’m over the moon and very much looking forward to next year,” the 23-year-old said. “It’s nice to have a clearer picture of what next year looks like. I’m looking forward to obviously the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. I probably would have played in that anyway but it’s always special to play at home. It will be fun going to Australia for a month or so, too. It’s going to be a fun year.”
