The Pre-Qualifier Marrakech is complete with 86 players progressing through to the Final Stage of Lalla Aicha Q-School.
At the end of the 54-hole competition, it was American Aneka Seumanutafa who won by two shots at Samanah Golf.
Singaporean amateur Shannon Tan and Scotland’s Alison Muirhead shared the honours at Noria Golf, while English amateur Annabell Fuller produced a four-shot victory at Palmerie Rotana.
Here is a more in-depth look at the final day of the Pre-Qualifier Marrakech…
SEUMANUTAFA WINS BY TWO SHOTS AT SAMANAH
Aneka Semanutafa recorded a final round of 68 (-4) to win the Pre-Qualifier being held at Samanah Golf by two shots.
The American has had a very consistent week producing rounds of 69 and 68 on the first two days to put herself in a great position heading into the final day.
And it was another good day in Morocco for the 23-year-old who carded a 68 which included five birdies and one bogey to top the leaderboard with a total of 11-under-par.
“I feel pretty confident going into next week,” said the Ohio State University graduate. “I had a lot of practice before coming to Morocco and it’s clearly paying off, so I’m going to carry that over into next week.
“My ball striking has been great this entire week, but my putting has been the key to shooting under par on this hard golf course.
“Today, I bogeyed 17 but made five birdies. I felt good today. Everything felt good coming into this week.”
Mexico’s Fernanda Lira ended the Pre-Qualifier in second place on nine-under-par after firing a phenomenal 65 (-7) on the final day.
The 28-year-old was bogey-free rolling in birdies on the second and fifth holes before an eagle on the ninth.
Lira finished her round with a flourish making three birdies on the trot on holes 15, 16 and 17 to seal the round of the week at Samanah.
“I was just trying to take every hole as it came,” said the Mexican player. “I really wanted to do well on the par-fives because they beat me on the first day. I was like, I need to birdie every single one. I was playing solid golf, one shot at a time.
“[On the eagle] They bumped up the tee. I hit a really good driver, and I had 192 yards and hit my 4-hybrid to three feet and made it. It felt like a par 4 so I tried to make a three.
“I set myself a very simple strategy. A lot of my birdies were good shots from the fairway and I had a couple of three-footers, so it was an easy going round.”
South Africa’s Cara Gorlei finished her week on a high signing for a round of 67 (-5) to finish in third place on seven-under-par.
Gorlei explained: “I’m pretty pleased. I shot my best nine-hole score ever, turned in 30, six-under, and then I kind of put the brakes on. I got to seven-under, but it’s been a long week and I got a bit tired. I’m happy to be able to play next week.”
Dutch player Mayka Hoogeboom and Finnish amateur Katri Bakker finished in a share of fourth place on five-under-par with American Katherine Muzi and Germany’s Sarina Schmidt one shot further back in T6.
England’s Billie-jo Smith and Sweden’s Ellinor Sudow ended the week in a tie for eighth place with Iceland’s Ragga Kristinsdottir rounding out the top 10 on one-under-par.
A total of 28 players made it through to the Final Stage of Lalla Aicha Q-School from the Pre-Qualifier at Samanah Golf.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
TAN AND MUIRHEAD FINISH TIED AT THE TOP AT NORIA GOLF
There was a tie at the top of the leaderboard in the Pre-Qualifier at Noria Golf with Singapore amateur Shannon Tan and Scotland’s Alison Muirhead both on 11-under-par.
It was a third very consistent day for Tan who has produced rounds of 70-69-69 while in Morocco.
The 19-year-old, who is in her second year at Texas Tech University, rolled in six birdies and two bogeys for her round of 69 (-4) and has a total of 11-under-par.
“I stuck to the gameplan this week, nothing special I guess,” said the teenager. “I was just hitting fairways, greens, trying to make my putt and move on.
“Part of it is also conserving energy because it’s literally going to be a 12-day golf marathon so trying to conserve some energy out there as well.
“I get feedback saying that I play really boring golf! It’s fairways and greens and that’s basically it. There’s nothing special, nothing too good and nothing bad. Just boring golf. I would take boring golf every day.
“I’m playing this Q-School for experience and to play against good players. I’m not at school right now because it’s winter break so I thought why not? I am just going to see how it goes, I guess.”
It has also been a solid week for Muirhead, who similarly produced a round of 69 (-4) on the final day to be at the top of the leaderboard on 11-under-par.
The Scottish player made three birdies in four holes on her front nine before adding another on the 10th and 14th – her only dropped shot of the day coming at the last.
“I’m very happy,” said the 25-year-old. “It was a steady day and a steady week; I can’t really complain. The weather has been perfect, today it played a little tougher with the wind with gusts up there but in general, everything went well.
“It’s really nice to see some familiar faces from the LET and catch up and see some old friends too. It’s a nice week and I had two great playing partners today.
“I really enjoyed my golf this week. I had my grandad, and my uncle died a year ago, so for me it was just going out and enjoying it and that’s what I did and what I wanted to do. It was a good week.”
French amateur Ariane Klotz finished the week in third place with a score of nine-under-par after carding rounds of 73-67-70.
“I played solidly all three days,” said the 25-year-old. “I just had a couple more putts that went in yesterday.
“I think the first round was just getting it out of my system, I was a little stressed and there were some stupid mistakes and bad swings, but I was hitting the ball really nice all week and I knew I had what it takes to go low on that course – it’s gorgeous and I loved it.
“I’m very pleased with today’s round. I missed a few occasions but that’s golf, you never play the perfect round and I still shot under-par which is always positive. So far, it’s been fun. I’ve had a good time, and I am just getting the job done.”
Ireland’s Lauren Walsh finished in fourth place on seven-under-par with Sadena Parks of the USA in fifth and Panama’s Laura Sluman in sixth.
Five players ended the week in a tie for seventh place on four-under-par, while a total of 28 players made it through to the Final Stage of Lalla Aicha Q-School from the Pre-Qualifier at Noria Golf.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
FULLER GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE TO WIN AT ROTANA
Annabel Fuller dominated the field at the Pre-Qualifier being held at Palmerie Rotana after finishing with a total of 14-under-par after rounds of 65-68-69.
The English amateur held the overnight lead on 11-under-par and produced another solid round on the final day of competition.
Fuller, who is from Roehampton, started her round with a birdie on the second hole before adding three more on the back nine on holes 12, 15 and 16.
It was a consistent week for Fuller who only made two bogeys in three rounds. She said: “I’m feeling great, I know at this stage you must have three good rounds and I came out and I played my game. I didn’t worry too much about the score as I was playing well.
“I wasn’t expecting these scores though. I wanted to play solidly and take it shot by shot. Happy that my putts dropped this week.”
Fuller was joined this week by her mum who caddied for all three rounds and credits her with keeping it fun out on the course.
She explained: “Having my mum on the bag is great, she is my best friend and it’s so much fun. I hadn’t seen her in five months because I was at school in Florida so then coming back and having time to catch up with her is fun.”
Fuller now advances to the Final Stage of Lalla Aicha Q-School, which starts on Saturday (16 December), and is one step closer to achieving her dream of an LET card.
She added: “Next week, I’m treating it like this week, I’m not going to expect too much and just play the best shots possible. Here’s hoping it’s another good week.
“It would be special to get my LET card. I was talking to my dad about the idea of being able to say I play on the LET. It would be cool and exciting.”
In second place on the leaderboard was Riley Rennell of the USA after she carded strong rounds of 72-67-68 to finish on 10-under-par.
Home favourite Maha Haddioui finished solo third on nine-under-par after rounds of 67-72-68 at Rotana.
“The goal was to make it through Pre-Qualifiers and obviously finishing third is a big positive,” said Haddioui. “It shows that my game is there and I’m feeling good about it.
“It’s proof of the good work I’ve been doing with my coach and I’m happy but again Q-School is a marathon not a sprint. I will take the days as they go but I am looking forward to it.”
The Moroccan player has been embracing home comforts this week but is also aware of the pressure that comes from having crowds come out to support her.
Haddioui had her sister on the bag this week but can’t use her next week as she works at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech, Morocco – one of two venues for final qualifiers.
She explained: “To have the things I’m used to is great, I love the courses and I know them well. People are expecting a lot from me and I’m expecting a lot of me but mostly I’m excited Q School is back in Marrakesh.
“I can’t use her [my sister] unless her manager lets me but I will use a local caddie and just try to keep the same attitude and good mood out there.”
Three players were tied for fourth with Italy’s Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Slovakia’s Anika Bolcikova and Canada’s Brigitte Thibault all on seven-under-par.
Spain’s Harang Lee, Thailand’s Aunchisa Utama and New Zealand’s Munchin Keh were all T7 on six-under-par with English amateur Megan Dennis rounding out the top 10.
A total of 30 players made it through to the Final Stage of Lalla Aicha Q-School from the Pre-Qualifier at Palmerie Rotana.
The full leaderboard can be found here.
