Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, known as Ale, secured full status into the Ladies European Tour after birdying her final hole at LET Q-School to finish inside the top 20.
Following a successful amateur career, one which saw her win the 2016 European Girls’ Team Championship and represent Italy at four European Ladies’ Team Championships, Fanali gained a scholarship to play golf for the Sun Devils at Arizona State University (ASU).
During her final year, Fanali competed at the Ladies Italian Open on the LET where she finished runner-up after losing in a playoff to Morgane Metraux.
In the hunt for Rookie of the Year in 2023, we caught up with Ale to find out about her background as a swimmer, her dramatic Q-School finish, and her goals for the season…
Hometown: Alatri, Italy
Home Course: Marco Simone Golf & Country Club
Age: 23
Started golf at: 9
Turned pro: 2022
I started playing just before I was 10 because of my dad. His whole family played golf, although my mum doesn’t know how to play which is kind of funny. I used to do swimming before that for eight years, so I started pretty late compared to the other girls I was playing with. Although I first went on a golf course when I was one or two because my dad used to walk with me on there.
Growing up I watched a lot of swimming and my idol was Federica Pellegrini, the great Italian swimmer. But when it comes to golf my hero has always been Tiger Woods. I grew up watching him and Phil Mickelson battle against each other. Tiger has always been my number one though and I’m excited to watch him this season, it should be fun.
At 12 my handicap started to improve very quickly. So then I was like maybe I do want to play golf. One year later I got into the Italian National Team and won my first championship. I wasn’t sure at first if I wanted to play professionally, but I definitely wanted to work in the golf environment.
College at ASU was very exciting. I remember our first year was the best ever. We were so excited to be there. I met Alexandra Försterling on the first day. We never really talked at first, but we quickly found out we have a lot in common, so that was cool. I would love to go back. I really enjoyed travelling with the team. We got to go to Hawaii four times which was very cool. But the week I won in college was the best because I won in Napa where they play the Fortinet Championship on the PGA Tour and my uncle was there because he lives close to San Francisco. It was very special. And then Alexandra won the week after, so we won back-to-back!
The PING Junior Solheim Cup was the best experience. We basically had a full Swedish team – there was Linn Grant, Maja Stark, Julia Engstrom, Frida Kinhult as well as Emma Spitz and Esther Henseleit – so everyone was very good. We got a chance to walk inside the ropes when the Solheim Cup was on and got to share a hotel with the players. The party they had at the final ceremony was so cool… I was there dancing with Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang!
The Italian Open was a very special week. I had just come back from college and I got to see my friends and family, so it was just a happy week. I had my boyfriend on the bag and I knew the golf course was going to suit me. I just tried to have fun and it ended up going really well which was so surprising! But on the other hand, it was helpful for me moving forward. Finishing second was the turning point. Then I knew I wanted to pro.
I had to birdie my last hole at Q-School! I lost a ball in a palm tree on my last round. It cost me two shots which put me one shot outside the cut line for a full card. I had to make a birdie on my last hole. It was not the best position to leave myself to earn a full LET card! I didn’t hit a good drive and I had 180 metres to the pin with two palm trees in my way. But I knew I needed a birdie so I hit a hybrid in-between and it landed two metres from the pin. It was stressful, I was shaking on the green on the last hole. But I made the putt which made it all the more special. My coach was there screaming and jumping around. It was a lot but it was an experience you have to have. It felt crazy long. I remember seeing Alexandra every day and saying ‘what day is it today?’
I want to win this year. That would be the best. I’m also looking to finish top 10 in the Race to Costa del Sol. That would be a good goal for me, but it’s still my first year so I need to keep it real and just go out there and have fun.
Quickfire Q&A
- Who is your hero? Federica Pellegrini and Tiger Woods
- What makes you happiest? Sunny morning by the beach or walking around Rome!
- Best friend in golf? My boyfriend Giulio Castagnara (that idiot!)
- Favourite food? Good pizza Napoletana
- Golfing superstitions? I always use a green ball marker
- Favourite travel destination? Japan and New Zealand
- What is your most treasured possession? I don’t really have an object, but I’d say my experiences and memories
- Favourite Course? Whisper Rock
- Dream fourball? Tiger Woods, Lydia Ko and Chris Hemsworth
Hear more from Ale and Alex on Episode 10 of the LET Golf Podcast…
