Four of the region’s top female golfers are aiming to take the next step in their careers at the Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Aicha Qualifying School in Morocco in December.
Rosie Belsham, Jess Baker, Shannon O’Dwyer and Amy Sutheran will tee it up in the two-part event looking to gain a membership category on the Ladies European Tour for 2025.
The event brings together a field of 220 women from around the world for the three-round pre-qualifier on December 10-12 at three venues. A total of 156 players – made up of pre-qualifiers and those exempt to the next stage through the 2024 LET and LET Access Series rankings – will then compete over five rounds at Final Qualifying at Royal Golf Marrakech and Al Maaden Golf Marrakech on December 16-20.
The leading 20 players and ties will earn category 12 LET membership for 2025 through Q School, with players finishing 21-50 earning category 16 membership. Players finishing outside the top-50 and ties at Final Qualifying will be offered LET membership in category 19.
“I’m really looking forward to my first trip to Q School,” said Whitley Bay-based Rosie, who is attached to Matfen Hall and turned professional earlier this year. “Having hurt my ankle at the start of the year, I’ve been playing a lot better recently and I’m enjoying competing again. It’ll be a long two weeks, but I can’t wait to get out there and give Q School a go for the first time. I’m trying to treat it like any other tournament and having ground out what’s been a tough year, I feel like I’m well prepared for it thanks to the support of the amazing team around me.”
Jess, who is attached to Close House and based in Gosforth, will also be making her debut at Q School having turned professional this summer. She said: “I’ve been building up to Q School all year, so I’m excited to get going and get some clarity on what my season is going to look like in 2025. I’ve been working hard and I’m happy with where my game is at the minute. I’ve done a lot of great work with my coach, Andy Paisley, and I’ve got everything I can control sorted. I’ve been really present and productive in my practice; it’s time to get out to Morocco and compete in a tough event to see if I can get one of the 20 cards. It’s a tough ask and I’ve got to take one day at a time, but I’m ready.”
Meanwhile, Shannon – who is sponsored by Plastic Processing Ltd – will be teeing it up at Q School for the third time having won twice on the 2020protour in the second half of the season. “My preparation for Q School has been good and I had a good finish to the year,” she said. “My game is the best it has been in a while thanks to my coaches, and I’m looking forward to getting out there and seeing how it goes. It’s a long buildup and it’ll be a tough two weeks if I get through all eight rounds, but the reward at the end is massive. You’ve got to play well, but this is the best I’ve felt going into Q School, so let’s see what happens.”
Amy will be competing in her first Q School thanks to the support of Plastic Processing Ltd. She said: “Q School is going to be an amazing experience, competing in a very strong field. I got the opportunity to go thanks to my sponsors and I’ve been working hard to get ready for it. I feel like I’m in a good place. This year has been focused on getting back to knowing I can compete again, and I have found that confidence. Adding the experience of Q School, no matter what happens in the end, will be a fantastic way to end the year. I have no expectations; I’m just going to try my best and see where it takes me.”
For updates from LET Q School visit www.ladieseuropeantour.com
