Albane Valenzuela ticked off one of her goals for the year in December by clinching LET membership at Q-School in Spain.
The Swiss golfer headed to La Manga Club in hopes of securing status on the LET in 2023 and that’s exactly what she did.
Rounds of 71, 67, 72, 71 and 70 on the North and South courses saw Valenzuela finish on 10-under-par in a share of sixth place and easily secure her card.
Speaking at the time, the 25-year-old said: “It feels great, I really came here to get the membership so I can tick that off.
“It’s been a fun week, it’s always good to get competitive rounds in the off-season. I feel I’ve been working on a few things and my iron play has been really solid. I still have a lot to polish in the putting area, but it’s been good and is very encouraging for the 2023 season.”
Valenzuela had a bonus during Q-School as she got her first hole-in-one in a professional event on the second hole of the North course in round four.
She explained: “The hole-in-one was really fun! I hit a really good shot and it’s funny because we were playing the practice rounds and I thought that hole would be a fun place to get one. I hit a very solid pitching wedge and it landed just past the pin and spun back.”
Last season Valenzuela finished 68th on the Race to the CME Globe on the LPGA Tour and she will continue to have play there in 2023.
However, with a record-breaking LET schedule to look forward to this coming year with the biggest prize money in the organisation’s 45-year history, the two-time Olympian also wants to play events on the LET.
She added: “There’s so many events worldwide and I think it’s great as a professional golfer to have options to play globally. I obviously play a lot on the LPGA Tour and that will be my focus, but to be able to play a few events on the LET will be really fun.
“One of my big goals is to eventually play in the Solheim Cup so I would love to make the team and that’s part of the process. Hopefully I will get some good play in and have a chance to qualify.”
As one of the latest stars to join the Tour, here are a few quick fire questions with the LET rookie.
Favourite food?
Anything Italian! Pizza, pasta, whatever carbs you want to put in.
Nickname?
My teammates in college called me Alvin because they could not pronounce my name and we said we were the chipmunks – the 2020 graduation class of Stanford.
Favourite course?
I would say Cypress Point in California. The views are spectacular and really fond memories of my teammates there.
Favourite club?
This week the pitching wedge has been going pretty well, so we’ll go with that one.
Hero?
Sports wise Tiger Woods, he is just a legend and the real GOAT.
Dream fourball?
I will put Tiger Woods, Condoleezza Rice and Michael Strahan – he is a good friend of mine and a fun person to play with.
Karaoke song?
I am not singing! I’m just a shower singer and that’s about it.
Something we don’t know?
I don’t know, I think it’s better to keep it a secret.
