Dec 19,2024
Ireland’s Anna Foster had an exceptional third day to share third place after three of the five rounds of the final qualifier of Lalla Aicha Q-School.
A top-20 finish would ensure a category 12 membership for next year that would entitle her to play in almost all Ladies European Tour events.
The 23-year-old from Dublin fired the round of the week at Al Maaden with a 65 (-8). She had three birdies on her front nine, and six on the the back, including four in a row from holes 13 to 16.
Foster finished in style with a final birdie on the 18th to sit on 11-under-par on the leaderboard at the 54-hole mark, behind Spain's Blanca Fernandez (67, -13) and Ecuador's Daniela Darquea (68, -12) and level with another Spaniard, Teresa Toscano, who shot 67.
Sara Byrne (70) from Cork and Lurgan’s Anabel Wilson (68) are both also firmly in contention for a top-20 finish as they share 12th place with England's Florentyna Parker.
Canice Screene (76) is tied for 26th and Armagh's Olivia Mehaffey will need a big performance to make the cut as as she is in a share of 109th on six over after a 73.
"I got off to a good start," said Foster. "The only thing I was really trying to do today was play the par-5s well and then anything more would have been a bonus.
"I did well on the par-5s and then my putter was hot today, so I have to thank her for that. I just got on a roll and then the hole just got bigger and bigger as the day went on. A solid round.
"By the fourth birdie [in a row], I was just like this has to stop soon and it did the next hole. It was great to get some momentum, and I really love this golf course, I think it just suits my eye.
"It will just be about trying to bring that momentum into tomorrow now and give myself some confidence and self-belief from today.
"Almost there, it's been a long slog but I’m just trying to almost count down the holes now until home time.
"I’m just trying to stay as present and patient as possible. It's such a long week. You can't really get ahead of yourself in a good or bad way. I’m really proud of myself today."
Germany’s Polly Mack, who is in outright fifth place on 10-under-par, posted a bogey-free 69 (-3) at Royal.
Wales Darcey Harry and Argentinian amateur Ela Anacona are one shot further back in a share of sixth place.
South Africa’s Danielle Du Toit, Denmark’s Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan and Australia’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard round out the top 10, all on eight-under.
There will be a cut to the top 65 players and ties at the end of tomorrow's fourth and penultimate round.
